Venus Aphrodite, by Alcamanes

About this work

This drawing shows a barefoot woman standing sideways, her arms raised as if holding something behind her head. Her body is smooth and simple, with soft shading to show curves. The background is just a faint suggestion of grass and sky, keeping all focus on her. The artist used a sketchy, almost ghostly line to draw her, making the figure look light and airy. This style was common in early lithographs, where the marks of the pencil or pen stayed visible. Next, look up lithography to see how this printmaking technique works.