Maria Anna of Spain
1615
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1615
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white portrait of a woman with a serious expression. She wears a ruffled collar and a pearl necklace, and her hair is pulled back neatly. The background is filled with intricate swirls and leaves that frame her face like a decorative border. The tiny lines and shading create a lot of detail, especially in her clothes and hair. This kind of careful linework is typical of engravings, where artists etch images onto metal plates. Want to know more? Look up engraving.
