A sixteenth-century woodcut by Veit Rudolf Specklin depicting the biblical encounter between the wise woman of Tekoa and King David.

This woodcut by Veit Rudolf Specklin depicts the biblical narrative from the Second Book of Samuel, where the wise woman of Tekoa petitions King David. Specklin, a German artist active during the sixteenth century, employs the characteristic linear precision of the period to delineate the figures and their architectural surroundings. The composition is divided into two distinct zones: the interior space where the king sits upon his throne, and an exterior balcony where a secondary scene unfolds.

The artist uses clear, rhythmic hatching to define the folds of the garments and the texture of the tiled floor. The woman, shown in profile, gestures towards the king, who is seated in a high-backed chair. Behind the king, an attendant stands with a staff, while in the background, a figure kneels before another royal figure on the balcony. The spatial arrangement is typical of Renaissance book illustration, where multiple narrative moments are compressed into a single frame to convey the story efficiently.

Specklin’s work reflects the technical standards of German printmaking in the mid-sixteenth century. The lines are controlled and deliberate, serving to clarify the narrative rather than to create atmospheric depth. The figures are rendered with a focus on gesture and posture, which were essential for communicating the moral and political weight of the biblical text to a contemporary audience. The print demonstrates the clarity and narrative focus common in the woodcut tradition of the era, providing a visual interpretation of the text that prioritises legibility and symbolic action. This piece is a fine example of the illustrative techniques used in historical religious texts, capturing the tension of the encounter through simple, effective graphic means.