The Flaying of Marsyas
1644
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1644
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This black-and-white print shows a dramatic scene in a wooded area. A figure is being flayed alive—his skin is being peeled back—while another figure stands nearby holding a staff. Trees and bushes fill the background, and the ground has rocks and plants. The sky is dark, and the whole scene looks tense and violent. The artist used fine lines to show texture, like the bark on trees or the folds in the skin. This technique is called etching, where acid eats into metal plates to create the image. Next, look up technique: etching to see how artists make prints like this.
