Entombment c. 19th century

Curator: This image is called "Entombment" by Natale Schiavoni. It's currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. The scene is so emotionally charged. Editor: Yes, there's a heaviness to it, not just in subject matter but the way the light and shadow are worked. Look at the way the body is being supported – that cloth seems almost inadequate. Curator: It's fascinating to consider how Schiavoni used the conventions of religious art to convey both grief and reverence. The public would have expected a certain level of drama. Editor: And I wonder about the labor involved in creating this print. The skill needed to translate such dramatic light effects through engraving is immense, a real collaboration between artist and artisan. Curator: Absolutely. It’s a powerful statement about faith and loss in the context of the time. Editor: Agreed. The materiality of the print itself lends a certain weight to the subject.