Enrag'd Monster
1778
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1778
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This print shows two human figures tangled in a giant, snarling octopus. The octopus rises from stormy waves, its tentacles wrapped around the men’s legs and arms. One man clutches his head, the other looks up in fear, while the octopus’s beak-like mouth looms over them. The sky above is dark and swirling, with jagged clouds. The title *Enrag’d Monster* hints this might be a warning about danger lurking beneath the surface. The chaotic lines and dramatic lighting suggest movement and panic. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this one carved images into metal plates.