Moses Striking the Rock
1548
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1548
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Moses Striking the Rock is a 1548 ink by Augustin Hirschvogel, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white etching shows a group of people in a desert scene. Some stand tall, pointing or holding staffs, while others kneel or crouch around animals. In the center, a man raises his arms, and a small child clings to his leg. The background has tall, spiky shapes that look like tents or rocks, and the ground is rough with scattered lines. The text below is in German and seems to tell a story about Moses and water from a rock. The artist used sharp lines to create shadows and movement, making the scene feel busy but clear. Next, look up etching to see how artists like Hirschvogel made prints like this.
