Lot en zijn dochters c. 1590 - 1595

Agostino Carracci created this print, "Lot and His Daughters", using etching. Notice how the composition is arranged into distinct planes, with Lot and his daughters dominating the center, a lone figure in the mid-ground, and a mountainous landscape defining the background. The tight interlocking of bodies in the center contrast sharply with the more loosely defined areas around them. Carracci’s use of line creates varied textures, from the smooth skin of the figures to the craggy rocks and distant city. The formal arrangement mirrors the story’s themes of intimacy, isolation, and moral decay. The figures are arranged in a composition with the formal device of chiaroscuro – this not only illuminates the figures dramatically, but also underscores a complex interplay between revelation and concealment. This formal rendering emphasizes the inherent tensions within the narrative. These choices encourage an ongoing dialogue around the work's meaning.