Christuskind en Johannes de Doper 1666

"Christuskind en Johannes de Doper" (1666) is an etching by Flemish artist Arnold de Jode. It depicts the infant Christ and John the Baptist in a tender embrace. The scene likely references a verse from the Gospel of Luke where John the Baptist says, "He must increase, but I must decrease." The work's detail and composition are typical of Baroque-era printmaking. De Jode, who lived a short but prolific life, was known for his skilled depictions of religious scenes. The etching has a melancholic tone, achieved through use of light and shadow, a characteristic style of the artist.