Battus Transformed into Stone

Battus Transformed into Stone

Herman van Swanevelt

1628

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This black-and-white print shows a quiet forest scene with two figures and a cow. One person is leading the cow by a rope, while the other leans against a tree, looking back. The trees are thick, with lots of branches and leaves, and the ground has a rocky stream running through it. The print uses shading to show depth, making the trees and figures stand out. The artist focused on nature and simple moments, not grand drama. Look up etching to see how this technique works.

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