Sibylla Hellespontina

About this work

This sketch shows a person sitting on a rock, wrapped in a loose cloak. Their head is covered with a hood, and they hold a small branch with a few leaves and fruit. Behind them, a window with a curtain and a pillar are faintly drawn. The lines are rough, almost like quick notes. The artist used a simple tool—woodcut—to make this image. That means they carved shapes into wood, then pressed ink into the grooves to print it. The rough edges give it a sketchy, hand-drawn feel. Check out the technique: woodcut to see how artists made prints like this before photography.