The Parable of the Good Samaritan 1549

Maarten van Heemskerck’s ‘The Parable of the Good Samaritan,’ now at the Met, was made using the intaglio printmaking technique of engraving. This painstaking process involves incising an image into a metal plate, applying ink to the recesses, and then transferring it to paper under high pressure. The stark contrast between the dark lines and the light paper gives the scene a dramatic intensity, drawing our eyes to the wounded man and his compassionate helper. Look closely, and you'll see how the density and direction of the engraved lines create texture and volume, defining the figures' musculature and the folds of their garments. The image, of course, is one of profound generosity. But the print itself speaks to the economic realities of the 16th century. Printmaking was a burgeoning industry, allowing for the mass production and dissemination of images, and artistic labor was increasingly tied to market demands. Heemskerck's skilled hand, guided by both artistic vision and the demands of the print market, blurs the line between craft and fine art.