Ark van Noach

About this artwork

Allerlei dieren gaan per twee over een loopplank de ark van Noach in, vele vogels vliegen naar binnen.

Art Historical Context

Jonas Umbach’s etching *Ark van Noach* captures the familiar biblical moment when animals enter Noah’s Ark two by two. Measuring just 80 by 126 millimeters, the small print shows a steady procession of creatures crossing a gangplank while birds wheel overhead, all rendered with delicate lines typical of seventeenth-century etching. The compact format suggests the work was intended for private devotion or inclusion in printed books rather than display as a large painting. Etching allowed Umbach to translate the story’s sense of ordered movement into fine, repeatable detail. Every pair of animals—quadrupeds on the ramp, fluttering wings above—emphasizes the theme of preservation amid divine judgment. In the Dutch Republic and neighboring regions, such prints circulated widely, bringing scriptural narratives into everyday households and reinforcing moral lessons through accessible imagery. Though modest in size, the etching reflects the period’s fascination with both natural history and religious narrative. By focusing on the animals’ orderly progress, Umbach invites viewers to contemplate themes of obedience, survival, and renewal that resonated strongly in the seventeenth century.

About the Artist

Jonas Umbach · 1624–1693

Comment on works: Landscapes; History; Kitchen interiors; Birds