Artwork
Christ at the Table of Simon the Pharisee
Christ at the Table of Simon the Pharisee is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Netherlandish 16th Century. It dates from 1570 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Christ at the Table of Simon the Pharisee is a print that combines etching with a chiaroscuro woodcut. Executed on laid paper, the image is rendered in a muted gray‑green palette, giving the scene a subdued tonal range.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts Jesus sharing a meal with Simon the Pharisee and a surrounding group of figures. The crowded interior and the varied expressions on the participants’ faces suggest a narrative moment of interaction and hospitality, inviting contemplation of the biblical episode’s themes of forgiveness and social inclusion.
Technique & Style
The work employs a dual printmaking process: an etched line drawing provides the detailed contours, while the chiaroscuro woodcut supplies broad tonal washes that model light and shadow. The interplay of fine incised lines with the softer, layered woodcut tones creates depth and emphasizes the emotional nuances of the figures.
Context
Chiaroscuro woodcut, popular in the early modern period, allowed artists to achieve a painterly effect through multiple blocks. By pairing it with etching, the artist expands the medium’s capacity for intricate detail and atmospheric shading, situating the piece within a tradition of experimental print techniques that sought to bridge drawing and painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
This artist carved scenes with fine lines, mostly religious and mythological ones.
