Les divers pourtraicts et figures VII
1600
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This engraving shows four figures in three arched frames. On the left, a skeleton leans on a shovel, looking at a standing man with a spear. The man holds a scroll and stands confidently. To the right, two more skeletons—one holding a sword, the other a broken hourglass—stand near a crumbling pillar. The artist used sharp lines and shadows to create drama. Notice how the skeletons’ poses mirror the living man’s, like a warning or lesson. Want to see how artists used this technique? Look up engraving.
