The Departure of Jacob to Egypt
1647
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1647
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This etching shows a busy group of people and animals moving across a landscape. In the foreground, a man on horseback leads a herd of cattle, while others herd sheep and dogs run ahead. The background has a rocky hill with more people and animals climbing. The sky is dark and stormy, giving the scene a dramatic feel. The artist used fine lines to show every detail, from the folds in the clothes to the fur of the animals. This kind of careful linework is typical of etchings, where the artist scratches into a metal plate to create the image. Look up etching to see how artists like this one make prints.
![The Flight into Egypt [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/3a100db72e6d25e3/thumb.webp)
