The Abduction of Helen of Troy
1650
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1650
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This drawing shows a dramatic scene on water. A woman in a boat is reaching up, as if being grabbed by a winged figure. A bearded man on the right holds a spear and looks determined. The waves and clouds are sketched with quick, wavy lines, and there’s a city in the background. The artist used ink and brown wash to create depth and movement. Notice how the lines overlap to add shadow and texture—this is called cross-hatching. Look up cross-hatching to see how artists build depth with just lines.
