Artwork
Christ and the Woman of Samaria
Christ and the Woman of Samaria is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Lucas van Leyden. It dates from 1522 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Lucas van Leyden’s 1522 woodcut, titled Christ and the Woman of Samaria, presents a tranquil encounter at a well. A kneeling figure, identified by a halo marked with letters, holds a rope and bucket, while a standing companion clasps his hands. Behind them a modest town with towers and a church rises on a hill, and distant figures wander along a path.
Subject & Meaning
The image illustrates the New Testament episode in which Jesus converses with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. By emphasizing the calm exchange rather than dramatic revelation, the print invites contemplation of the spiritual dialogue, underscored by the haloed figures that signal the sacred nature of the encounter.
Technique & Style
Executed as a woodcut, the work relies on carved wooden blocks to produce bold lines and stark contrasts. Van Leyden’s handling of detail, such as the textured rope, the architectural silhouettes, and the delicate halo lettering, demonstrates his mastery of the medium and his ability to convey narrative depth within the limited tonal range of black-and-white printmaking.
History & Provenance
Created in the early sixteenth century, the print reflects van Leyden’s reputation as one of the Netherlands’ foremost engravers and woodcutters. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work circulated among devotional prints of the period, contributing to the artist’s widespread influence across Northern Europe.
Context
During a time when religious subjects dominated visual culture, van Leyden combined emerging genre sensibilities with traditional biblical themes. The depiction of everyday activity, a well, a town, passersby, situates the sacred narrative within a familiar setting, aligning with contemporary trends that sought to make holy stories accessible to a broader audience.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Lucas van Leyden (1494 – 8 August 1533), was a Dutch painter and printmaker in engraving and woodcut. Lucas van Leyden was among the first Dutch exponents of genre painting and was a very accomplished engraver.
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Worship of the Golden Calf
A Game of Chess
Mary with Child, St. Maria Magdalena and founder (separate outside, Inv. No. 7713)
Inner left wing of a diptych with Christ as the Man of Sorrows
Inner right wing of a diptych with the Virgin as Mater Dolorosa
Annunciation
![Christ and the Woman of Samaria [verso], by German 16th Century](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/german-16th-century--christ-and-the-woman-of-samaria-verso--b92a651572d4a24c-w320.webp)