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The Annunciation

Sébastien Bourdon

1638

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Religious

Dominant colour

The Annunciation is a 1638 ink by Sébastien Bourdon, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Sébastien Bourdon
When & what style?: 1638 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This etching shows a quiet, dim scene with two figures indoors. A woman in a long dress kneels by a small table, looking down. Behind her, a draped figure with wings hovers near a pillar, holding a staff. The room has a heavy curtain on the right and a dark, shadowy corner. The woman seems to be reacting to the angel’s presence, which is common in stories about divine messages. The artist used sharp lines to create texture, like the folds in the fabric and the feathers of the angel’s wings. Next, check out the technique: etching to see how artists like Bourdon made these detailed prints.