Venus and Amor
1800
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1800
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This print shows a bare-chested woman with wings and a thoughtful pose, touching her chin. A small child clings to her shoulder, while another small figure peeks from behind her. The background is dark, with swirling clouds and a few leaves. The artist used deep shadows to make the figures stand out sharply. This style was common in prints of the time. Look up chiaroscuro to learn more about this dramatic lighting technique.
