Murder of the Innocents
1807
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1807
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This print shows a chaotic scene of people in dramatic poses. A woman kneels, clutching a child while others around her scream or reach out in panic. In the background, soldiers on a balcony point weapons downward. Above them, cherubs float in the sky, looking on. The print’s strong contrasts between light and dark help create the tension. This style was often used to make scenes feel more intense. Next, check out chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and shadow like this.
