The Baptism of Christ (recto); The Baptism of Christ (verso) 1590 - 1632

Gabriel Weyer created this pen and brown ink drawing called *The Baptism of Christ* around 1616. Weyer, working in the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods, operated within a society deeply shaped by religious doctrine and the intersection of faith and power. In this artwork, we see the very human act of baptism, an important rite for many Christians, cast in a divine light. The figures are rendered with soft, fluid lines, emphasizing their humanity even as angels descend from above, representing divine approval and blessing. The nakedness of the figures suggests vulnerability and purity. The act of baptism speaks to a desire for spiritual cleansing and renewal. Weyer's decision to depict this scene reflects the period’s interest in religious themes, but the softness of the drawing lends it an intimacy that transcends the prescribed doctrines of the time. It's in this juxtaposition, between the physical and spiritual, human and divine, that Weyer asks us to consider our own place in the world.