The Massacre of the Innocents c. 1576 - 1580

"The Massacre of the Innocents" is a print by French artist Léonard Gaultier, created between 1576 and 1580. The scene depicts a gruesome moment from the Christian Bible, where King Herod orders the execution of all male infants in Bethlehem in an attempt to kill the newborn Jesus. Gaultier's print vividly captures the chaos and terror of the event, showcasing the brutality of the soldiers and the anguish of the mothers. This work is a powerful reminder of the fragility of life and the horrors of violence. The print exemplifies the use of etching, a technique that allows for intricate detail and dynamic composition, typical of the Northern Renaissance.