The Seed Falling by the Wayside

This is one of a series of four prints portraying the biblical parable of the sower, made in Antwerp (in present-day Belgium) at the end of the 1500s. The parable compares types of soil to people in the world: one hardened; one fickle; one distracted by things of the world; and one with an open heart, ready to accept God. In this image of the sower hardened to the word of God, the man has fallen asleep beside the field while a small devil steals the word of God from his heart.

A horizontally oriented print in black ink on beige paper depicts three figures in a landscape. In the foreground, a woman sits beside a spilling jar to our left. Centrally, a bearded man rests his head on his hand, holding a smoking branch. To our right, a woman reclines near a donkey. Behind, a man sows seeds in a field below mountains and buildings. Latin text lines the bottom margin beneath cross-hatched trees.

The Seed Falling by the Wayside

1574

Philip Galle, Gerard van Groeningen

(Flemish, 1537–1612), (Flemish)

Netherlands

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork

Artwork Page for The Seed Falling by the Wayside

Details / Information for The Seed Falling by the Wayside