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Ugo da Carpi after Parmigianino, Diogenes, c. 1527,
chiaroscuro woodcut, National Gallery of Art, Washington,
Pepita Milmore Memorial Fund 1997.15.1
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Chiaroscuro
means light and dark in Italian. The chiaroscuro woodcut technique
was developed so that highlights and shading—light and
dark—could be added to a linear image. Making these prints
required several steps. The paper was usually tinted with
a colored wash. An artist such as Ugo da Carpi would have
carved several blocks out of wood: the first was printed in
black ink and gave the outlines of the image; a second was
printed in a lighter color to create highlights; and sometimes
additional blocks were carved for more colors and highlights.
Ugo da Carpi specialized in chiaroscuro woodblock prints.
This work, Diogenes, is considered to be his masterpiece. |
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