Artwork
Samarian Woman at the Well
Samarian Woman at the Well is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Jan Pietersz Saenredam. It dates from 1594 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Jan Pietersz.
About this work
Overview
Jan Pietersz. Saenredam’s 1594 engraving, titled *Samarian Woman at the Well*, presents a biblical episode from the Gospel of John. Executed on laid paper, the print exemplifies the Northern Mannerist approach to narrative illustration, combining precise line work with a composed, idealized landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The image shows a woman in a draped robe, her head wrapped, seated on a stone ledge while holding a large, ornamented jug. Her gaze lifts upward, suggesting contemplation or prayer, aligning with the scriptural moment when the Samaritan woman engages in dialogue at Jacob’s well.
Technique & Style
Saenredam employed fine engraving, using cross‑hatching to model forms and convey texture in the stone, foliage, and distant hills. The meticulous line work creates a sense of depth and materiality, characteristic of the detailed reproductive prints popular in the late sixteenth century.
History & Provenance
Saenredam, a Dutch artist noted for allegorical and scriptural subjects, produced this work during a period when prints served both devotional and educational purposes. The engraving was likely circulated among collectors and scholars interested in biblical illustration, though specific ownership records are scarce.
Context
The print reflects the broader Northern European fascination with combining classical compositional balance and biblical narrative. Its careful rendering of landscape and figure mirrors contemporary interests in naturalistic detail within a stylized, mannered framework.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Pieterszoon (abbr. Pietersz.) Saenredam (c. 1565 – 6 April 1607) was a Dutch Northern Mannerist painter, printmaker in engraving, and cartographer, and father of the painter of church interiors, Pieter Jansz…
