Pietà
1518
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1518
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This woodcut shows a man holding a limp body wrapped in cloth, his head bowed in grief. Around them, rough trees and jagged rocks fill the background. The lines are sharp and scratchy, like they were carved into wood. Notice how the artist used simple shapes—circles for the head, triangles for the folds of the cloth—to show deep emotion. The scene looks heavy and sad, but the drawing is clean and clear. Want to see more like this? Look up woodcut.
