Cain Killing Abel

About this work

This engraving shows two men in a rocky landscape. One is kneeling, his head bowed, while the other stands behind him, raising a heavy rock. The lines are sharp and dark, creating deep shadows and texture in the clothes and muscles. The artist used tiny parallel lines to build up the shadows—this is called cross-hatching. It makes the scene feel dramatic and intense. Next, look up cross-hatching to see how artists create depth with lines.