Pteris Aquilina
1760
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1760
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a single fern drawn with fine, precise lines. The fronds fan out in a symmetrical shape, each leaflet detailed with tiny strokes. The whole plant sits against a plain, light background. The artist used ink to trace the real, dried fern—notice how the lines follow the plant’s exact shape. This style was common in old science books for studying nature. Look up cross-hatching next to see how artists create shading with lines.
