Christ and the Samaritan Woman
1606
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1606
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Christ and the Samaritan Woman is a 1606 ink by Josse de Pape, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This etching shows Jesus and a Samaritan woman talking by a well. Christ sits near the edge, the woman bends forward, water jug in hand. Their quiet talk broke social rules of the time. This scene comes from the Bible’s Gospel of John. Artists often painted this moment to show faith crossing divides. Josse de Pape made this with sharp lines, not paint. Look for a similar mix of detail and drama in an etching by Rembrandt.
