Marie de Medici (?)
1625
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1625
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a black-and-white portrait of a person wearing a large, starched collar and heavy jewelry. They’re dressed in fancy 17th-century clothes, with a chain around their neck and a cloak draped over one arm. The background is plain, keeping the focus on the face and hands. The artist used fine lines and shading to show texture, like the folds in the fabric or the smoothness of the skin. This was a common way to make engravings look detailed. Next, check out engraving to see how artists create depth with just lines.
