Allegory of Conception or Allegory of Redemption
1783
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1783
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Allegory of Conception or Allegory of Redemption is a 1783 ink by Pierre Lelu, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a chaotic scene of people tangled in movement. At the top, a calm woman in a long robe floats above the crowd, holding a child. Below her, men and women twist in dramatic poses—some reaching up, others falling. The background has small cherubs and rocky terrain. Notice how the artist used layers of shading to make the figures look three-dimensional. The red-brown ink gives everything a warm, shadowy tone. Next, look up etching, drypoint, aquatint to see how these techniques create depth.
