1509
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Two Couples in the Forest is a 1509 ink by Lucas van Leyden, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows four people standing in a forest. Two women face each other, one holding a staff and the other a long cloth. Two men stand behind them, one with a beard and a hat, the other holding a round object. Trees and bushes fill the background, with a cross shape made of branches above the men. The artist used deep lines to create shadows and texture, especially on the clothing and trees. This technique makes the scene feel detailed and three-dimensional. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like Lucas van Leyden created prints like this.
Lucas van Leyden (1494 – 8 August 1533), was a Dutch painter and printmaker in engraving and woodcut. Lucas van Leyden was among the first Dutch exponents of genre painting and was a very accomplished engraver.
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