Artwork
Moses Striking the Rock
Moses Striking the Rock is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Augustin Hirschvogel. It dates from 1528 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Augustin Hirschvogel’s 1528 etching, *Moses Striking the Rock*, presents a compact, sketch‑like composition in which a central figure raises a staff toward the sky while a crowd gathers around him. The work is executed in the drypoint‑like line work typical of early German printmaking, and it captures a moment from the Old Testament narrative in a concise visual format.
Subject & Meaning
The image illustrates the biblical episode in which Moses, leading the Israelites through the desert, brings forth water from a rock by striking it with his staff. The surrounding figures—some kneeling, others standing, accompanied by animals—emphasize the communal reliance on divine provision and the authority of the leader in a moment of crisis.
Technique & Style
Created as an etching, the piece relies on incised lines that vary in thickness, giving the scene a spontaneous, almost unfinished quality. Hirschvogel’s handling of line conveys movement and depth without extensive shading, a hallmark of the early 16th‑century German print tradition. The rough, sketchy strokes enhance the immediacy of the narrative.
History & Provenance
Hirschvogel, a German mathematician, cartographer, and printmaker, produced the work during a prolific period of his career focused on etching. While the original ownership trail is unclear, the print has been catalogued among his surviving oeuvre and is associated with the Danube School, a regional artistic circle active in Bavaria and Austria.
Context
The Danube School, to which Hirschvogel is linked, emphasized naturalistic landscapes and expressive line work. *Moses Striking the Rock* reflects the school’s interest in integrating biblical subjects with a dynamic, almost observational approach to composition, situating the sacred narrative within a tangible, everyday setting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Augustin Hirschvogel (1503 – February 1553) was a German artist, mathematician, and cartographer known primarily for his etchings.
