The Holy Family with the Goldfinch

About this work

This black-and-white print shows a woman holding a baby, with two older kids nearby. A man stands behind them, looking down. The woman’s dress drapes softly, and the kids have round, calm faces. A bird with an open beak hovers near her shoulder. The title hints this scene is religious, but the quiet details matter—like the bird’s tiny claws or how the man’s hand rests on the woman’s arm. The artist used sharp lines and shading to create depth. Check out how engraving works to see how these lines were made.