The Parable of the Good Samaritan
1644
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1644
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Parable of the Good Samaritan is a 1644 ink by Sébastien Bourdon, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a rocky forest scene with a winding path and a small waterfall. In the foreground, a person lies on the ground near the path, while another person kneels beside them. Tall trees frame the scene, and in the distance, a town sits by a river under a cloudy sky. The artist used fine lines to build up shadows and textures, like the folds in the person’s clothes or the rough bark of the trees. This is how engraving works—etching lines into a metal plate to create depth. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists use layers of lines to make shadows pop.
