The infant Christ asleep on a cross, his head resting on a skull, a crown of thorns and nails in the foreground 17th century

This anonymous 17th-century etching depicts a powerful image of the infant Christ asleep on a cross, his head resting on a skull. The presence of a crown of thorns, nails, and an hourglass in the foreground emphasizes the theme of Christ's future suffering and sacrifice. This poignant artwork, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, uses the traditional imagery of the crucifixion to evoke a sense of foreboding and the fragility of life. The visual elements of the artwork, such as the delicate lines, the contrast between the sleeping Christ and the skull, and the symbolic objects, contribute to a sense of both beauty and profound contemplation.