The Submersion of Pharaoh's Army in the Red Sea

The Submersion of Pharaoh's Army in the Red Sea, executed after a design by the master Titian (Italian, c. 1488-1576) and published by Domenico dalle Greche (Italian, active 1543-1558), is a monumental example of collaborative printmaking from the Renaissance. Dating from the period 1510-1520, this immense woodcut, printed in rich black ink on ivory laid paper, captures the destructive climax of the Exodus narrative as the divided waters of the Red Sea collapse upon the pursuing Egyptian forces.

This print highlights Titian’s compositional genius, characterized by dramatic movement and complex spatial recession, successfully translating his grand pictorial vision into the linear limitations of the woodcut medium. The scale of the work confirms the high ambitions of print publishers in sixteenth-century Italy, who sought to disseminate famous designs and historical narratives across Europe. Unlike unique paintings, prints like this piece allowed for the broad circulation of the artist's style, cementing Titian’s reputation as a key figure in the High Renaissance.

The utilization of the woodcut technique to achieve such density and texture speaks to the sophistication of the process during this era. This remarkable piece is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it serves as a critical document of the relationship between painting and the graphic arts. As the work dates from the early 16th century, its visual documentation and high-quality prints are today frequently available to students and the public through public domain resources, allowing continued study of the masterwork The Submersion of Pharaoh's Army in the Red Sea.