The Plague of Frogs
1585
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1585
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This engraving shows a chaotic scene with people scrambling under a stormy sky. Frogs swarm everywhere—on the ground, in the water, and even on a table where people are eating. One man holds a tray of food while another looks on, and a boy sits with a dog nearby. In the background, a building with arches stands half-flooded, and more frogs fill the air. The text at the bottom is Latin, hinting this is a biblical story about plagues. The artist used fine lines to create shadows and depth, making the scene feel busy and dramatic. Next, check out how engraving works to see how artists like Sadeler made these sharp details.