Essau Selling his Birthright
1551
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1551
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Essau Selling his Birthright is a 1551 ink by Etienne Delaune, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a busy scene with people, animals, and strange shapes. At the center, a man sits on the ground holding a bowl. Another man leans over him, pointing at something. Around them, goats, sheep, and odd creatures scramble about. Two small boxes with birds sit on top of a wall in the background. The whole thing looks carved into the page. The artist used fine lines to build up dark areas, making the shapes pop. This kind of print was a big deal back then—people hung these on walls like posters. Want to see how this works? Check out engraving.
