Battle of the Nudes
1472
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1472
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This engraving shows a dozen nude men locked in a violent fight. Antonio del Pollaiuolo used a new trick: he drew each muscle tight, as if the body was a machine. His lines are so sharp they could cut. The sheet is two pieces glued together, rare for the 1400s. He added ink on top to sharpen shadows, almost like a sketch after the print. It feels raw, like a warm-up for something bigger. Look up engraving, cross-hatching next.
