Head of Medusa
1650
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Head of Medusa is a 1650 by Unknown, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This print shows a close-up of a face with snakes tangled in its hair. The eyes are wide, the mouth open as if screaming, and the hair is thick and wild. The lines are dark and scratchy, making everything look rough and intense. The Latin text below names this figure as Medusa, a mythical creature from ancient stories. The artist used only black ink on paper, with no color at all. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how light and shadow create drama in art.
The engraving depicts Medusa's head in nearly full-face view, with snakes coiled around her neck and their tails knotted at the front; the paper print bears the inscription "Medvsa Phorci filia," among other text.
Read the full account in the museum source.
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