Birth of Pharez and Zara
1566
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Herman Jansz Muller
Herman Jansz Muller (1566–1566) was an artist.
See the richer artist page1566
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Birth of Pharez and Zara is a 1566 ink by Herman Jansz Muller, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a chaotic scene packed with people and animals tangled together. In the center, a woman lies on the ground surrounded by a pile of bodies, some reaching toward her. Above, a winged figure hovers, holding a scroll, while other figures—some on horses, some crawling—fill the space. The background has a small building and a tower, but the focus is on the swirling mass of limbs and expressions. The title hints this is about a biblical birth, but the artist crammed in drama instead of calm. Notice how the lines create depth and movement—every stroke seems to pull your eye deeper into the mess. Want to see how this technique works? Look up engraving.
Herman Jansz Muller (1566–1566) was an artist.
See the richer artist page
