1549
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Joseph Thrown into the Well is a 1549 ink by Augustin Hirschvogel, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a chaotic scene with a group of men struggling around a central figure who’s being lowered into a well. The lines are scratchy and busy, with lots of movement—some men are pulling ropes, others are watching or reacting. The background has trees and rough terrain, but the focus is on the tangled bodies and the drama of the moment. The text below is in an old German script, hinting this tells a biblical story. The artist used a technique that lets them pack lots of detail into the lines. Check out the technique: etching to see how artists like this made prints.
Augustin Hirschvogel (1503 – February 1553) was a German artist, mathematician, and cartographer known primarily for his etchings.
See the richer artist page
