David Cutting Off Goliath's Head

David Cutting Off Goliath's Head

Dutch 16th Century

1556

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This image shows a dramatic scene from the Bible, where David is cutting off Goliath's head. David stands over Goliath's body, holding a sword in one hand and Goliath's head in the other. The scene is crowded with people in the background, some of whom are running away in fear. In the foreground, David's facial expression is one of determination and focus. He is dressed in simple clothing, with a cloak draped over his shoulder. Goliath's body lies on the ground, his armor and weapons scattered around him. The engraving style gives the image a sense of depth and texture, with intricate details in the clothing and armor. The overall mood of the image is one of tension and drama, capturing the intensity of the moment when David defeats Goliath. To learn more about the artistic techniques used in this engraving, explore the technique of cross-hatching.

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