Artwork
Lot and His Daughters
Lot and His Daughters is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Hans Leonard Schäufelein. It dates from 1530 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Hans Leonard Schäufelein’s woodcut entitled *Lot and His Daughters* dates from around 1530. Executed on laid paper, the monochrome print measures a modest size and presents a compact, narrative scene rendered in the stark contrasts typical of early German printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts the biblical episode in which Lot, accompanied by his two daughters, has taken refuge after the destruction of Sodom. The figures are arranged in a desolate landscape, their solemn expressions suggesting the gravity of the moment and the impending moral dilemma that follows.
Technique & Style
Schäufelein employed the woodcut process, carving fine lines into a wooden block to produce the intricate detailing seen in the drapery, foliage, and rugged terrain. The use of sharp, incised lines creates a textured surface that emphasizes the contrast between illuminated areas and deep shadows, a hallmark of early 16th‑century German engraving.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1530, the print belongs to a period when woodcut was a principal means of disseminating religious narratives. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work has been catalogued in several European print collections, confirming its circulation among collectors of Reformation‑era graphic art.
Artist & collection
