The Large Cat

About this work

This black-and-white print shows a big cat—maybe a tiger—lying down on the ground. Its fur is textured with lots of fine lines, and its head is turned slightly toward us. In the background, there’s a small mouse near a dark, shadowy wall, and some plants on the ground. The artist used tiny, crisscrossed lines to build up the dark and light areas, giving the fur a fuzzy look. This kind of careful shading is typical of the time. Next, check out engraving to see how artists like this made detailed prints.