David and Goliath (ca. 1520–27, Met-Objekt 5992)
Original title: David and Goliath
kurzbeschreibung
Between about 1520 and 1527 Ugo da Carpi made this chiaroscuro woodcut, fixing the biblical duel of David and Goliath in a crowded scene full of movement.
Description
Goliath lies on the ground while David bends over him and aims a weapon. Behind them other fighters come into view, some armed, others wounded or fallen. Trees and hills suggest a rural setting, and the figures wear armour and garments of the period. The arrangement pulls the eye toward the pair in the foreground, while sharp contrasts of light and dark divide the surfaces in the manner typical of chiaroscuro printing.
Context
Ugo da Carpi, an Italian master of the woodcut, brought the chiaroscuro technique to Italy after taking it up from German printmaking. The sheet belongs to the High Renaissance, an era when biblical stories and ancient heroes were often taken up in art. Three blocks were printed to gain several tonal steps. It forms part of a series dealing with Old Testament narratives.
Impact
The tension between light and shadow drives the scene forward and holds the moment of combat. Carefully worked details and the lifelike rendering of the bodies give the print weight, almost something monumental, that draws the viewer into the biblical action.
Technique
Printing was done in green tones from three woodblocks, the method of the chiaroscuro woodcut. Graduated tonal values made it possible to achieve spatial depth and a sense of volume. The print is on paper, and the sheet measures 26 × 38.5 cm.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)