The Circumcision of Christ 1510 - 1550

Sebald Beham’s delicate pen and brown ink drawing depicts the circumcision of Christ. The scene is set within an interior, where we see the Virgin Mary looking on as the infant Christ is held over a basin. Beham was one of the German Little Masters, printmakers who created small-scale, intricate engravings. He was also a committed Protestant during the Reformation, a time of intense religious and social upheaval. His personal beliefs are woven into the work, as the rite of circumcision was foundational to Jewish identity but took on new theological meanings for Christians, referencing Christ's humanity. Notice how Beham rendered the scene with a palpable sense of humanity and vulnerability. The infant’s small body is the focal point, drawing the viewer's attention to themes of sacrifice and faith. It invites us to meditate on the emotional weight of religious ritual, and how it impacts individual lives. The drawing serves as a poignant reflection on identity, belief, and the intersection of personal and religious experience.