Shamgar and Barak - Hans Collaert the Elder

A hand-coloured engraving by Hans Collaert the Elder depicting the biblical figures Shamgar and Barak in sixteenth-century attire.

This hand-coloured engraving by the Flemish printmaker Hans Collaert the Elder depicts two figures from the Book of Judges: Shamgar and Barak. The composition presents the two men standing in a shallow outdoor setting, their identities confirmed by labels above their heads. Shamgar, on the left, is shown with a goad, referencing the biblical account of his victory over the Philistines. Barak, on the right, is dressed in contemporary sixteenth-century armour, reflecting the common practice of the period to depict historical or biblical figures in the attire of the artist's own time.

The print is part of a larger series, indicated by the numbering at the bottom and the accompanying Latin and French inscriptions. These texts provide a brief summary of the figures' roles in the narrative of Israelite history. The engraving style is characteristic of the Antwerp school, featuring precise line work that defines the contours of the figures and the folds of their garments. The application of colour, likely added after the initial printing, uses a palette of muted earth tones, blues, and reds to differentiate the figures from the background.

Collaert was a member of a prominent family of engravers and goldsmiths in Antwerp. His work often focused on religious and mythological subjects, intended for a learned audience familiar with both scripture and classical history. The inclusion of handwritten notes beneath the image suggests this print was once part of a bound volume or a collector's album. The figures are rendered with a focus on clarity and narrative function, typical of pedagogical or devotional illustrations from the late sixteenth century. The background, while minimal, provides a sense of place, with small figures engaged in secondary actions that hint at the broader context of the biblical stories.