Ornament

About this work

This engraving shows intricate repeating patterns—scrolls, vines, and strange little faces—all carved into a block. The detail is wild. Tiny figures hide in the curls. These aren’t random doodles. They’re part of a design system. Master AD used cross-hatching, a technique where lines make shadows and textures. Look at how the light plays on the curls. It’s not flat. The lines bend to show depth. See more work like this at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.