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Christ Disputing with the Doctors

German 16th Century

1600

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Religious

Dominant colour

Christ Disputing with the Doctors is a 1600 ink by German 16th Century, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: German 16th Century
When & what style?: 1600 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This image shows a busy scene with many figures packed into a room. At the center, a seated man with a long beard is surrounded by people—some kneeling, some standing, all pointing or gesturing. One figure holds a book, another raises a staff, and the room looks like a church or temple with tall columns and arched windows. The clothing is old-fashioned, with loose robes and head coverings. The artist used shading and lines to create depth, making the figures look three-dimensional. Notice how the light seems to come from the top, highlighting faces and hands. Look up cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with layers of lines.