Saturn
1582
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1582
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This round image shows a bearded man sitting in the center, holding a scythe and a globe. Around him are four scenes with buildings, trees, and people—each corner of the picture has its own little world. The lines are dark and detailed, with lots of tiny dots and strokes to create shadows and texture. The man looks serious, almost heavy, with wrinkles and a long beard. The scenes around him show different landscapes, but they’re all drawn with the same careful, precise lines. This style was meant to tell a story without words. If you like this kind of detailed drawing, look up engraving.
