The Massacre of the Innocents
1619
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Jacques Callot
Jacques Callot was a baroque printmaker and draftsman from the Duchy of Lorraine.
See the richer artist page1619
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Massacre of the Innocents is a 1619 ink by Jacques Callot, a Baroque work, depicting Battle, held at National Gallery of Art.
This dark etching shows soldiers attacking women and children in a town square. It’s based on King Herod’s order to kill baby boys after Jesus’ birth. Callot made tiny figures but packed the scene with chaos. The artist used a sharp needle to scratch lines into metal. He left tiny burrs so ink caught in them for a rough, urgent look. This technique is called drypoint. See how every face is different. If you like Callot’s sharp lines, check out Rembrandt’s etchings.
Jacques Callot was a baroque printmaker and draftsman from the Duchy of Lorraine.
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