Parallel lines drawn close together to create shading, shadow, or texture in drawings, engravings, and maps. The density, direction, and spacing of these lines determine the darkness and visual effect of the shaded area.
From French 'hachure,' derived from 'hacher' meaning 'to chop' or 'hack,' related to 'hatchet.' The term reflects how these parallel lines appear to 'chop up' or segment the drawing surface into light and dark areas.
Master engravers like Albrecht Dürer turned hachure into high art, using thousands of precisely spaced parallel lines to create incredibly detailed prints that rival photography! In his famous 'Melencolia I,' different hachure densities create everything from gossamer fabric to heavy metal textures - all with just black ink lines.
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