Return of the Prodigal Son
1636
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This etching shows a man kneeling in front of another person who’s embracing him. The kneeling man wears a hooded cloak, and the standing man has a loose robe and a head covering. Behind them, two figures stand in doorways, watching. The floor is uneven stone, and the scene feels crowded with emotion. The artist used deep shadows and strong contrasts to make the figures stand out. The lines are scratchy, almost like they were drawn quickly, but the faces hold a lot of feeling. Next, look up chiaroscuro to see how this lighting trick works in other art.
