1714
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Massacre of the Innocents is a 1714 ink by Bernard Picart, a Baroque work, depicting Battle, held at National Gallery of Art.
This drawing shows soldiers grabbing babies while mothers scream. The lines are sharp and the ink is dark, making the scene feel frantic. The artist used a technique called cross-hatching to create shadows and depth. This scene comes from a Bible story about King Herod ordering the killing of baby boys. Picart chose to focus on the chaos and pain, not the soldiers’ faces. The dark wash makes the mothers’ white clothes stand out even more. Look closely at the way the ink is scraped away on the edges. It adds a rough, urgent feeling to the drawing. See more of Picart, Bernard’s work at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Bernard Picart or Picard (11 June 1673 – 8 May 1733), was a French draughtsman, engraver, and book illustrator in Amsterdam, who showed an interest in cultural and religious habits.
See the richer artist page
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