Marie de Medici, Wife of Henry IV of France
1590
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1590
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white portrait of a woman with a high white collar and a big, puffy wig. She’s wearing a pearl necklace and a fancy dress with ruffles at the neckline. The background is a round frame filled with leaves, flowers, and a banner with words in French. The words around her name—*Marie de Medici*—tell us who she is. The artist used fine lines to create shadows and texture, which makes the details pop. If you like this style, look up engraving to see how artists made prints like this.
