Cleopatra 1633 - 1672

"Cleopatra" is an etching by Dutch artist Willem Basse, created between 1633 and 1672. The small-scale artwork (43 mm x 34 mm) depicts the Egyptian queen in a dramatic pose, with a snake wrapped around her arm. This image, likely inspired by classical sources, captures a moment of tragedy and is executed with a masterful use of hatching and cross-hatching, lending depth and texture to the figure.