Laban cherchant ses dieux (Laban Searching for his Household Gods)

Gabriel Jacques de Saint-Aubin

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of a gathering of people in a biblical or historical setting. The scene depicts several individuals beneath a tent-like canopy. To the center-left, a woman sits with an infant on her lap, surrounded by other figures in flowing robes. To the right, a figure stands authoritatively, gesturing as if speaking or giving instructions. The detailed etching captures the texture of the fabrics and expressions of the figures, with shading and cross-hatching used to create depth and dimension. The scene is composed with a balance of horizontal and vertical elements, drawing the viewer's eye across the assembly of figures and objects on the ground.