The Martyrdom of Saint James (?)
1630
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1630
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This woodcut shows a chaotic crowd of people in the center, all tangled together. Some figures are on their knees, others stand with arms raised, and a few seem to be falling. The background has small scenes of buildings and people, but the main action is the messy, crowded group in the front. The artist used sharp lines and heavy shading to create a sense of movement and drama. The paper has a textured look, typical of woodcuts. Look up woodcut to see how this printing technique works.
