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Diana and Endymion
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Chiaroscuro drawings were executed on paper colored a middle tone. While black or brown wash was used to create shadows, white gouache (opaque watercolor) was used for highlights. In the early 16th century, German printmakers developed a method to achieve similar effects using woodcut. The outline of the image is printed in black from one block of wood, while the shadows are printed from a second block in a color. For Diana and Endymion, two blocks were used to print two shades of green. The white, unprinted areas of the paper serve as the highlights. The technique of chiaroscuro woodcuts was revived in France in the early 18th century by LeSueur.
| Artist / Maker | Nicolas LeSueur |
|---|---|
| Date | mid-1700s |
| Culture / Origin | France |
| Medium | chiaroscuro woodcut |
| Dimensions | Sheet: 62.1 x 44.7 cm (24 7/16 x 17 5/8 in.); Image: 44.7 x 31.1 cm (17 5/8 x 12 1/4 in.) |
| Department | Prints |
| Type |
About the Artist
BiographyNicolas LeSueur (1690–1764) — French draughtsman and printmaker. Nephew of Vincent. Chiaroscuro woodcuts, with blocks printed over woodcut or etched base. Worked for Recueil Crozat.Nicolas LeSueur worked as wood engraver, graphic artist, illustrator, printmaker and draftsperson and is associated with France. Their documented life spans the years 1690 to 1764; born and died in Paris.Disciplineswood engraver, graphic artist, illustrator, printmaker, draftspersonBorn1690, ParisDied1764, ParisNationalityFranceSources: Wikidata Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
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