The Entombment of Christ 1535 - 1555

Jean Mignon created this print of "The Entombment of Christ" around 1550, and it’s now held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The composition is dominated by intricately rendered figures and the symbolic frame. Notice how Mignon uses dense crosshatching to build form and shadow, creating a somber atmosphere fitting for the scene of Christ's burial. The bodies are twisted, almost mannerist in their elongation, which contributes to the emotional intensity. Mignon destabilizes the traditional religious narrative through his formal choices. The ornate frame, filled with grotesque masks and abundant fruit, contrasts sharply with the solemnity of the entombment, creating a visual tension. The composition doesn't offer a comforting vision but rather a complex interplay between beauty and decay, life and death. The overall visual experience emphasizes the breakdown of established meanings by combining sacred and profane elements, urging us to reconsider the cultural values embedded in religious iconography.