Illustration for Canto V

About this work

This print shows a woman sitting on the ground holding a basket of flowers. Two other women stand over her, one holding a fan and the other a basket of fruit. The background has a draped curtain and a wreath hanging above. The scene looks calm but a little dramatic, with soft folds in the clothing and careful shading. The artist used a mix of fine lines and shading to create depth, which was common in prints of this time. This kind of detailed work was often used to tell stories from books or poems. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this made prints with needles and acid.