Queen Elizabeth
1620
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1620
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Queen Elizabeth is a 1620 ink by Magdalena van de Passe, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a woman with a tall, ruffled collar and a big, fancy headpiece. She’s holding a small object in her right hand, maybe a globe or a book. Her dress is covered in detailed patterns—dots, lines, and shapes that look like embroidery. The background is plain, so all the focus stays on her face and clothes. The tiny lines and shading in her hair and fabric aren’t painted—they’re carved into the metal plate. This was a way to make detailed prints before photography. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this made sharp, repeatable images.
Magdalena van de Passe (1620–1620) was an artist.
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