Open full image Pin

Nox (Night)

Charles Le Brun

1640

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Mythology

Dominant colour

Nox (Night) is a 1640 ink by Charles Le Brun, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Charles Le Brun
When & what style?: 1640 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This etching shows dark, swirling lines and deep shadows on paper. It feels heavy, like night itself. The marks aren’t random—they build up, some sharp, some soft. Le Brun was big in Louis XIV’s France. This work shows his skill with ink and metal plates. The technique, called etching with engraving, lets him scratch fine lines then carve deeper ones. Want to see more of his dark, dramatic style? Look up Le Brun, Charles.