Graflegging van Christus 1582 - 1585

Johann Sadeler I's "Graflegging van Christus" (1582-1585) is a powerful depiction of the Entombment of Christ, a pivotal moment in Christian tradition. This etching, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, shows the body of Christ being lowered into a stone tomb, surrounded by mourners. The intricate detail of the figures' expressions, their garments, and the surrounding landscape speaks to Sadeler's mastery of the printmaking medium. The inscription at the bottom of the artwork, "Sic Deus intacta de Virgine natus Iefus, / Quem crucis in igno frelerata infamia Jixir" (Thus God, born of the Virgin, innocent, / By the cross's foul disgrace was stained with infamy) and the accompanying verses, reflect the solemn and deeply religious context of the artwork.