Hermes
1564
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1564
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white engraving of a shirtless man with wings on his hat, standing on a rocky shore. He’s holding a staff in one hand and pointing forward with the other. Around him, plants and a small tree grow, while swirls and patterns fill the background like a frame. The way the lines are carved into the paper creates shadows and texture—this is called cross-hatching. The artist used this technique to show depth and movement. Next, look up technique: engraving to see how artists like this made detailed prints.