1540
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Departure of the Prodigal Son is a 1540 ink by Sebald Beham, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a group of four men in old-fashioned clothes standing under a tree. One man is kneeling in front of another, who holds out his hand. A soldier and a servant watch from the sides. In the background, there’s a castle with towers and a walled city. The kneeling man looks tired, while the man reaching out seems to be offering help. The scene feels dramatic, with the tree and the castle adding to the mood. This is an example of engraving, a technique where artists carve into metal plates to make prints.
Sebald Beham (1500–1550) was a German painter and printmaker, mainly known for his very small engravings.
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