Moses Striking the Rock
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 in a rocky landscape. A group of people surrounds a man striking a rock with a staff, while others tend to animals and carry buckets. In the background, a few tents and trees sit against distant hills, and a woman in a hooded cloak stands apart, looking down. The busy activity suggests this might be a biblical story, but the exact moment isn’t clear. The artist used deep shadows and sharp lines to create movement and drama. Next, look up chiaroscuro to see how this technique works.
