A Pregnant Young Woman and a Young Man with a Staff c. 1750s

This pen-and-ink drawing, "A Pregnant Young Woman and a Young Man with a Staff," was created by the famed Italian artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi in the 1750s. Piranesi is well-known for his dramatic etchings of ancient Roman ruins, but he also produced many drawings, such as this one, depicting everyday figures and scenes. The quick, expressive lines capture the movement and posture of the figures, suggesting a fleeting moment in their lives. The drawing is intimate in scale, measuring only 8.8 x 9.2 cm, yet it powerfully communicates a sense of human presence and interaction.