Noah's Ark
1566
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1566
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This crowded scene shows Noah’s family, animals, and a stormy sky inside a wooden ark. The people are packed together, some holding onto ropes or animals. Birds fly above the ship, and waves crash around it. In the background, a dark, swirling sky looms with lightning. The artist used tiny lines to build up shadows and textures, like on the animals’ fur and the rough wood. This method is called *cross-hatching*—layers of lines create depth without color. Next, check out how cross-hatching works in other prints.
