Klagen over Kristi lig 1654 - 1657

Curator: This pen and ink drawing, “Klagen over Kristi lig,” or “Lamentation over the Body of Christ,” comes to us from Jürgen Ovens, dating roughly from 1654 to 1657. It is currently held here at the SMK, the Statens Museum for Kunst. Editor: It’s a powerful image, isn't it? Raw with emotion, all etched lines and stark contrasts. It feels almost like witnessing a secret grief, a hidden moment of profound sorrow laid bare. Curator: Yes, Ovens has masterfully captured a very specific scene of sorrow. Traditionally, the "Lamentation" depicts the followers of Christ mourning over his dead body after the crucifixion. This narrative holds a heavy symbolic weight, tied to ideas of sacrifice, mourning, and the promise of redemption. Notice how the figures are arranged; the pyramidal composition draws your eye directly to Christ's body, held tenderly. Editor: It is as though the grief is almost unbearable. The composition feels so full, bordering on claustrophobic, amplifying that intensity. Is it me, or does Christ appear so much bigger than everyone else in the scene? Is this intentional or my trick of the eye? Curator: Absolutely intentional. Consider the historical and theological implications of scale here. The artist is using the size of the figure of Christ to communicate the immensity of the event taking place. By making the figure of Christ so prominent, Ovens connects to a tradition of history paintings where figuration is deployed as a narrative aid. Editor: You know, seeing the crosses looming in the background... it reminds me that even in death, these figures—they are haunted by what's to come and the role they were all doomed to play. All roads end at the crucifixion for everyone in the scene. Curator: Precisely, this artwork acts as a potent reminder of shared history and continuity of memory through evocative images. Editor: Thanks for sharing the details—it is haunting and evocative indeed!