The Triumph of Truth over Envy, Plate 24
1781
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1781
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
You see a woman in flowing robes—Truth—standing on a snake while Envy cowers below. Clouds swirl around her raised fist like a storm. This print was made with aquatint, a way to etch metal so it looks like ink washes on paper. Prestel used it to copy drawings for collectors who wanted something that felt like the real thing. The soft shadows and smoky clouds show how well the method worked. Look up how aquatint works next.
