Titelblad til ligprædiken med fremstilling af Rakel der dør ved Benjamins fødsel. Omgivet af aneskjolde 1631 - 1657

This print, made by Hans Andreas Greys, presents a scene framed by heraldic shields. The composition is split between an interior and exterior, linked by the drama of Rachel’s death during childbirth. Greys employs contrasting textures, from the smooth expanses of the tent’s fabric to the minute detailing of the shields and landscape. Note how this detailed treatment undermines any sense of spatial depth; the figures appear almost flattened against the background. The shields encircling the central image aren’t merely decorative; they act as visual signifiers, rooting the scene within a specific social and familial context. The division of space into distinct, almost symbolic zones—the intimate, tragic interior versus the pastoral exterior—suggests a negotiation between private suffering and public identity. The image operates on a system of signs, inviting us to decode not only the biblical narrative, but also the complex web of social and familial meanings woven into the image. The print serves not just as a visual representation, but as a statement of lineage and legacy.