Tenth Plague of Egypt
1816
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1816
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This engraving shows a dark room where a man clutches his dead child. The light falls hard on their bodies, leaving everything else in deep shadow. The father’s face is twisted in grief. The artist used two print techniques together: etching and mezzotint. That mix makes the shadows extra rich and velvety, like real night. The horror feels close because the ink sits thick on the paper. Watch the way the light carves the father’s hand and the child’s face. If you like this mood, look up William Say.
