Bathing Maiden
1798
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1798
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This black-and-white print shows a woman standing in a wild, overgrown forest. She’s turned slightly, one arm raised as if holding something, surrounded by thick vines, bushes, and towering trees. The background is dense with leaves and branches, and a small stream runs near her feet. The artist packed every inch with tiny details—each leaf and twig looks real. This kind of careful, textured work was key in the 1700s for prints like this. Check out etching to see how artists like this carved intricate lines into metal plates.
