Foolish Virgin
1518
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1518
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This black-and-white print shows a woman holding a lantern in one hand and a scroll in the other. She stands on a rocky ground with a city in the background. Below her, two people lie on the ground—one looks up at her, the other reaches out with a key. The woman’s confident pose and the lantern suggest she’s guiding someone, while the others seem lost or trapped. The artist used sharp lines and deep shadows to create drama. Want to know more? Check out the technique: woodcut.
