1646
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Four Caterpillars and a Snail is a 1646 ink by Wenceslaus Hollar, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white drawing shows four caterpillars and one snail. The caterpillars have different textures—some fuzzy, some dotted with tiny circles. The snail sits on a flat surface, its shell detailed with lines. Tiny hairs or grass fill the background, making it look like they’re on a leaf or branch. The artist focused on tiny details, like the caterpillars’ legs and the snail’s shell pattern. This kind of close-up drawing was common in the 1600s when scientists studied nature. Look up etching to see how artists like this made precise prints.
Wenceslaus Hollar (Czech: Václav Hollar (Czech pronunciation: ), German: Wenzel Hollar; 23 July 1607 – 25 March 1677) was a Czech engraver, etcher and painter.
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