Battle between Cavalry and Infantry
1592
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1592
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This image shows a chaotic battle scene with soldiers on horseback and foot. The horses rear up, swords clash, and one fallen soldier lies on the ground. Rocks and smoke add to the sense of chaos, with swirling lines showing movement and energy. Notice how the artist used sharp lines and shading to make the action feel urgent. The scene looks like it’s carved into the surface, which is how etching works—ink is pressed into lines scratched into metal. Next, check out etching to see how artists like Tempesta created dramatic effects with this technique.
