Moses Striking the Rock
1528
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1528
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Moses Striking the Rock is a 1528 ink by Augustin Hirschvogel, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketchy drawing shows a group of people gathered around a man in the center, who’s holding a staff and pointing upward. Behind him, a few figures look on, while others kneel or crouch near animals—dogs and what looks like a pig. In the background, tents and a rough landscape stretch out, with some people standing on a raised platform. The scene looks like a biblical moment, with the central figure possibly leading or commanding. The artist used quick, uneven lines to keep it dynamic and sketchy, almost like a hurried note. Next, check out etching to see how this technique works.
