XC: Ninety Years
1599
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1599
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
XC: Ninety Years is a 1599 ink by Crispijn van de Passe I, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows four figures in a small room. One person is wrapped in a sheet with a skull on their head, holding a branch. Another wears a hooded cloak and sits with a child. A man in fancy clothes points at them, while a small owl perches on the windowsill. The scene looks dramatic, with dark lines and shadows. The skull and branch might hint at death and time passing. The text around the edge is in Latin, which often meant serious ideas in old prints. Want to see more? Check out engraving to learn how artists carved these sharp details.
