Christ and the Woman of Samaria
Medium
Engraving in black on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Image/sheet, trimmed just within platemark: 3.8 × 7.7 cm (1 1/2 × 3 1/16 in.)
Classification
engraving
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
80569
Art Historical Context
In the intimate engraving *Christ and the Woman of*, Hans Sebald Be captures a pivotal biblical moment from the Gospel of John, where Jesus converses with a Samaritan woman at the well, breaking social and cultural barriers. Created by the German Renaissance artist around the early 16th century, this undated work exemplifies Beham's mastery as one of the " Masters"—engravers renowned for their exquisitely detailed small-scale prints. At just 3.8 × 7.7 cm, trimmed close to the platemark on ivory laid paper, it invites close viewing, much like a precious gem in a collector's cabinet. Beham's en...
About the Artist
Hans Sebald Beham · 1500–1550
Sebald Beham (1500-1550), often called Hans Sebald Beham, was a German painter and printmaker born in Nuremberg. He stands as the most important figure among the Kleinmeister (Little Masters), a group of German artists who created remarkably detailed prints on a diminutive scale in the generation following Albrecht Dürer. Beham's significance lies in his technical virtuosity and unprecedented pro...