The Submersion of Pharaoh's Army in the Red Sea

The Submersion of Pharaoh's Army in the Red Sea by Titian, dating from 1514-1515, is one of the most ambitious and large-scale early prints produced during the Italian Renaissance. Executed as a monumental woodcut, the composition details the dramatic biblical scene from the Book of Exodus, where the escaping Israelites witness the destruction of the pursuing Egyptian forces as the parted waters of the Red Sea collapse upon them. This highly detailed Italian print showcases the young Titian’s mastery of dynamic figurative compositions, blending the expressive energy of Venetian naturalism with the linear precision required for the woodcut medium.

The complexity of executing a multi-block print of this magnitude required advanced technical collaboration, and the result is a vibrant, swirling depiction of drowning soldiers, panicked horses, and divine judgment. Titian frames the central chaos with the triumphant figure of Moses and the observing Israelites on the left, contrasting their stability with the aquatic turmoil engulfing Pharaoh's army on the right. This early work demonstrates Titian's strong foundation in graphic arts, a pursuit he continued to explore throughout his career in Venice.

Today, high-quality prints of this historical piece, classified under the classification of Print, are widely studied, often available through public domain initiatives. The Submersion of Pharaoh's Army in the Red Sea is a key representation of the artist’s narrative skill and is preserved in the esteemed collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, providing essential insight into the innovative print culture of early 16th-century Italy.