The Parable of the Two Sons and the Unjust Husbandmen
1585
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1585
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Parable of the Two Sons and the Unjust Husbandmen is a 1585 ink by Adriaen Collaert, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a busy scene with two groups of people in the foreground. On the left, a man in robes points toward a woman and child, while others listen. To the right, a group of workers tend to a vineyard, some carrying tools. In the background, a river runs through a town with boats and buildings, and a rocky hill rises with a castle on top. The text at the bottom is in Latin, hinting this is a story with deeper meaning. The mix of people and landscape suggests it’s teaching a lesson, likely from the Bible. Check out how engraving works to see how artists like this made detailed images with just ink and metal.
