1554
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Traveler among Thieves is a 1554 ink by Heinrich Aldegrever, a Northern Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a chaotic scene of a lone traveler surrounded by thieves. The man sits on the ground, holding his hat and a bag, while robbers swarm around him. Some grab his belongings, others point or gesture, and the whole scene feels tense and messy. The text at the bottom reads *"Homo descendens Jerusalem incidit in latrones"*—Latin for "A man traveling to Jerusalem falls among thieves." This is a clear reference to a well-known Bible story. Next, look up etching to see how artists like Aldegrever made detailed prints like this.
Heinrich Aldegrever or Aldegraf was a German painter and engraver. He was one of the "Little Masters", the group of German artists making small old master prints in the generation after Albrecht Dürer.
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