David Playing the Harp before Saul

About this work

This scene shows a group of men in a dimly lit room, crowded around a seated figure. One man plays a harp while others stand or kneel, some with hands raised or touching the seated man’s arm. A dog sits near the chair, and the room has simple stone walls and a wooden floor. The seated man looks older, with a beard and a crown of leaves on his head. The artist used a mix of black and gray tones to create depth, a technique called chiaroscuro. This print was made from multiple woodblocks to layer shadows and light. Look up technique: woodcut to see how artists like this made prints.