The Father's Leave-Taking
Medium
Etching; proof
Dimensions
image: 7 1/8 x 9 5/8 in. (18.1 x 24.5 cm) plate: 7 7/16 x 9 7/8 in. (18.9 x 25.1 cm) sheet: 13 3/8 x 18 7/8 in. (34 x 47.9 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of James David Draper, 2002
Accession Number
2002.61.95
Tags
Art Historical Context
"The Father's Leave-Taking," created in 1879, is an etching proof by William Holman Hunt in collaboration with The Etching Club. Hunt, a founding member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, brought his characteristic attention to emotional detail and moral themes to printmaking. The work captures a poignant family moment, suggested by its title and tags highlighting women and children, reflecting Victorian interests in domestic life and personal sacrifice. Etching was a favored medium among 19th-century British artists for its ability to produce intricate lines and tonal depth while allowing wi...