1785
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Standing Woman and Seated Men before an Obelisk is a 1785 ink by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, a Rococo painting work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows three figures in a rough, sketchy style. A woman stands tall in the center, holding a staff. Two men kneel beside an obelisk—a tall, narrow stone pillar. The trees around them are drawn with quick, wavy lines. The artist used a technique called etching, where lines are scratched into a metal plate. This creates a loose, energetic feel. The scene looks like it’s telling a story, but not a real one—it’s an allegory, meaning it stands for bigger ideas. Next, check out etching to see how this printmaking method works.
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, also known as Giambattista Tiepolo, was an Italian painter and printmaker from the Republic of Venice who painted in the Rococo style, considered an important member of the 18th-century Venetian school.
See the richer artist page
