1535
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
The Prodigal Son: Tending Swine is a 1535 by Sebald Beham, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This print shows a man in rough clothes leaning on a stick, standing near a group of pigs. The animals are scattered around him—some lying down, others rooting in the dirt. Behind him, a rocky hill and a few trees fill the background, while a small building peeks out near the rocks. The man’s tired stance and the pigs’ messy pile suggest a moment of hard work. The scene looks like it’s straight from a story, not just a regular landscape. If you like this style, check out chiaroscuro next—it’s the dramatic lighting trick used in prints like this.
Sebald Beham (1500–1550) was a German painter and printmaker, mainly known for his very small engravings.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
