Birth of St. John the Baptist
1750
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1750
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This black-and-white print shows a crowded scene with nine figures in a dim room. A woman kneels by a bed holding a baby, while others stand around—some looking down, others reaching out. A dog sniffs the floor near a bowl, and a man in the corner holds a staff. The lighting is dramatic, with dark shadows and bright spots on faces and hands. The title at the bottom calls it *Birth of St. John the Baptist*, but the print itself is based on an earlier painting. The way light and shadow separate the figures is sharp and precise. Look up chiaroscuro to see how this lighting trick works in other art.
