La Belle Hamilton
1815
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1815
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
La Belle Hamilton is a 1815 ink by Charles Rolls, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white engraving shows a woman in a fancy dress, sitting near a window. She’s holding a feather fan and looks thoughtful, with soft curls framing her face. The fabric around her is detailed, showing folds and texture. The artist used cross-hatching—tiny lines crisscrossed to create shadows and depth. This technique makes the image feel almost three-dimensional. Check out engraving to see how artists like this one made prints by hand.
