Les divers pourtraicts et figures II
1600
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This print shows three strong men struggling under heavy weights. Each one is sweating, muscles bulging, as they lift or carry giant objects—like a boulder or a basket of fruit. The background has arches and columns, but the focus is on the men’s effort. The artist used fine lines to show every straining muscle and fold of cloth. This was a common way to make engravings look almost like sculptures. Look up engraving to see how artists carved these tiny details into metal.
