Graflegging 1660s

Curator: What strikes me immediately about this work is the raw emotionality. The scene feels heavy, sorrowful. Editor: Indeed. This is "The Entombment" by Jacques Jordaens, created in the 1660s. It's a drawing, executed in ink, watercolor and wash on paper. Currently, it resides in the Rijksmuseum. Curator: The swirling lines amplify that sense of grief. Everyone seems to be either supporting or staring directly in shock, and there is almost this cloud looming over them, adding a lot to that cultural experience of mourning and the iconology around that imagery. It feels both universal and intensely personal. Editor: Precisely. Jordaens lived through periods of immense social and religious upheaval, and these times invariably surface through symbolism. We see this moment – the entombment – repeatedly throughout art history, each version reflecting the society’s values, expectations of grief, and beliefs about mortality. Curator: Look at Mary, front and center, face tilted upwards, eyes closed... there’s such a rich history of Marys in this context, really reflecting ideas about feminine sorrow in the period. The other figures lean inward in compassion, too. Editor: You’re absolutely right. What fascinates me is how the seemingly rushed technique enhances the drama. You wouldn't expect a Baroque master like Jordaens to create such sketch. The loose linework contributes to the overall dynamism, wouldn’t you agree? Curator: Yes, completely. The rapidness almost forces the eye across all of them. Even in the small details of the faces. The symbols around mourning. You know what the piece represents thematically, but the image and rendering really affect how it is perceived. Editor: It also offers us insight into Jordaens' process. Here we see art both as finished product, and documentation of art in progress; a snapshot of artistic creation that allows us to reinterpret this tragic subject in relation to that. I’m truly grateful the Rijksmuseum preserves this artwork for all to view. Curator: It's powerful how even centuries later, a sketch like this can convey such depth and resonate so strongly with us. Editor: Indeed. Art truly functions as both artifact of its own moment, and bridge to our understanding of those lost moments and those yet to come.