Bewening 1640 - 1700

Curator: Here, in the Rijksmuseum, we’re looking at "Bewening", an engraving by Jean Pesne, made sometime between 1640 and 1700. Editor: The light! It’s so dramatic, a sort of quiet scream, even in monochrome. I get a very mournful, melancholic impression from it immediately. Curator: Yes, that's the Baroque sensibility. Pesne utilizes the engraving technique masterfully here. Note the incredibly fine lines building up areas of deep shadow contrasting sharply with stark, untouched white paper. It amplifies the emotional intensity of the scene. Editor: Right, the light really sculpts the figures, almost theatrical. The faces, full of sorrow... who are we looking at exactly? It seems like a religious subject. Curator: The artwork depicts the Lamentation of Christ. We see Jesus, surrounded by figures including Mary, Joseph of Arimathea, and other mourners, a very common subject in the History Painting during that period. It’s about grief, loss, but also tenderness and care. Editor: There's a sort of stillness, even tenderness to it that really captivates. But I must ask, does this particular artist or presentation depart much from the classic depiction? Or does it largely lean into expected themes and iconography for the sake of a faithful rendition? Curator: While Pesne remains faithful to the iconic composition and subjects typical for religious painting of the era, you can appreciate the masterful light treatment that amplifies all emotional tones. Notice too how even the architecture in the engraving seems to participate in a certain mood—gloomy and imposing. It contributes in that cinematic, emotionally stirring language of Baroque aesthetic! Editor: Well, "Bewening," indeed. What a profound dive into collective mourning! This was a remarkable way to better understand the use of stark emotion expressed during the Baroque. Curator: Precisely. I think by studying artworks like Pesne's engraving, we learn to appreciate not only artistic conventions, but also human dimensions beyond technique.