Entombment 1515 - 1540

Parmigianino etched this ‘Entombment’ scene, capturing Christ’s body being laid in the tomb, surrounded by mourners. At the base of the tomb, we see a cluster of flowers and foliage. In Christian iconography, these flowers symbolize both the beauty of life and its transience, mirroring Christ's journey through death to resurrection. Consider the motif of the entombment itself. This image echoes ancient funerary rites, where vegetation and flowers were used to honor the deceased and symbolize rebirth. This connection bridges pagan and Christian traditions, revealing a deep-seated human need to confront death and seek solace in the cyclical rhythms of nature. The emotional weight of this scene is palpable; the drooping figures and somber expressions convey profound grief. This emotional display taps into our collective memory of loss and mourning. The image serves as a poignant reminder of our shared human experience of mortality, and the enduring hope for renewal found in the natural world. This image is not just a depiction of a biblical event, but an exploration of death, memory, and rebirth.