To Clothe the Naked

To Clothe the Naked

Georg Pencz

1525

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This black-and-white engraving shows three men in a dim room. One older man sits on the left, holding a small object and looking down. In the middle, a younger man kneels, reaching toward the older one. A third man stands behind him, holding his shoulder. The scene feels tense, with strong lines showing their clothes and hands. The title *To Clothe the Naked* hints this might be about giving or asking for help. The artist used fine lines and shading to show light and texture, like fabric folds and skin. Next, check out engraving to see how artists like Pencz created detailed prints.

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