The Great Cannon
1525
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1525
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This etching shows a massive cannon in the center, surrounded by people and tools. A woman in a long dress stands near the cannon, holding a scroll. In the background, a city with towers and winding streets stretches across the scene, while a ship sails on a river. The tiny details—like the people working around the cannon and the distant landscape—fill the whole image with activity. This was made as a single metal plate, where the artist scratched lines to create the design. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this made prints.
