Massacre of the Innocents 1600 - 1700

"Massacre of the Innocents" is a 17th-century red chalk drawing depicting the biblical story of King Herod's order to kill all male infants in Bethlehem. The anonymous artist captures the chaos and despair of the scene, with mothers desperately shielding their children and soldiers ruthlessly carrying out the king's command. The drawing, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, showcases the dramatic use of light and shadow to emphasize the emotional intensity of the event.