Ornament Panel: Triton Ridden by a Child
1510
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1510
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This image is a tall, skinny black-and-white print. At the top, a fancy vase sits between two faces peeking out. Below it, a chubby baby rides a sea creature with a fish tail. Swirls and leaves fill the empty space around them. The lines are sharp and detailed, almost like lace. The artist used tiny lines to build up shadows and shapes—this is called *engraving*. It looks like something you’d see on old buildings or jewelry from the time. Next, check out how engraving works to see how artists made these crisp lines.
