Augustus, Duke of Saxony
1582
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1582
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white engraving of a bearded man in a round frame. His face is serious, with deep lines and a full beard. Around him, there’s a fancy border filled with swirls, letters, and tiny details like crowns and scrolls. The words "AUGUSTVS DUX SAXONIAE" curve above his head, and the year "1582" sits at the bottom. The artist used cross-hatching—lots of crisscrossed lines—to create shadows and texture. This style was common in Renaissance prints to add depth without color. Check out how cross-hatching works to see how artists made shading before photography.
