Sphinx Wearing a Crescent on Her Head
1563
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1563
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This drawing shows a strange, half-human figure with a woman’s face and a bird’s legs. She stands on a pedestal, holding two ornate candelabras with swirling designs. The figure wears a crescent moon on her head and has a calm, smooth face. The artist used a technique that lets ink sit in carved lines, creating sharp details. This kind of printmaking was new in the 1500s. Look up etching to see how artists like this made prints.
