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Saint John the Baptist

Jacques Callot

1632

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Religious

Dominant colour

Saint John the Baptist is a 1632 ink by Jacques Callot, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Jacques Callot
When & what style?: 1632 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This black-and-white print shows a lone figure crouched under a scraggly tree. The branches twist sharply, and the ground looks rough. In the background, a few small bushes and a faint hillside are sketched in. The artist used sharp lines to create texture—notice how the leaves and bark look almost three-dimensional. This was done with a needle, not paint. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this made prints.