Samson and Delilah
1519
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Hans Burgkmair the Elder
Hans Burgkmair the Elder (1473–1531) was a German artist, born in Augsburg.
See the richer artist page1519
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Samson and Delilah is a 1519 ink by Hans Burgkmair the Elder, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This woodcut shows a dramatic scene of two figures tangled together in a dark, chaotic space. The woman is on top, her hair wild, gripping Samson’s long hair while he slumps forward, blindfolded. Around them, the room looks like it’s falling apart—crumbling walls, broken furniture, and a dog in the corner. The lines are sharp and scratchy, with lots of shading to show movement and emotion. The artist used woodcut, a printing method where the image is carved into wood and inked. This style was common in the 1500s and lets you see every detail in bold black and white. Look up woodcut to see how this technique works.
Hans Burgkmair the Elder (1473–1531) was a German artist, born in Augsburg.
See the richer artist page
