Psalm 110 (A Psalm of David)
c. 1957
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View on museum website →Medium
woodcut in black on light brown paper
Classification
Portfolio
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Philip Hofer in memory of Charles Hofer III
Accession Number
1974.107.8
Art Historical Context
Psalm 110 (A Psalm of David), a woodcut created around 1957 by Charles Knowles, captures the spiritual depth of one of the Bible's most enigmatic passages. This verse, attributed to King David, is a messianic prophecy often interpreted as foretelling the coming of a priest-king, blending royal authority with divine priesthood. Knowles renders it in bold black ink on light brown paper, evoking the earthy tones of ancient manuscripts while highlighting the text's timeless resonance. The woodcut medium— a relief printing technique where the artist carves away negative space from a woodblock—lend...