Christ in Gethsemane (copy) 1600 - 1652

Curator: This is an engraving of Christ in Gethsemane, a print made by Claes Jansz. Visscher sometime between 1600 and 1652. Editor: It has a subdued intensity. The tonal gradations achieved through engraving really capture the stillness, broken only by a subtle, almost imperceptible dynamism. Curator: Visscher has staged the scene quite cleverly within this circular format. Christ is shown kneeling in prayer in one area of the scene while his disciples sleep nearby, blissfully unaware of the mob approaching. Editor: Yes, and consider the technique! The cross-hatching used to build form is just phenomenal. You can almost feel the rough texture of the rocks and the weight of the figures' robes. It speaks to a very demanding and physical process of production, with labor literally embedded into the meaning of the work. Curator: Indeed. The piece is part of a long tradition of history paintings where we witness, perhaps now through printmaking and widespread distribution, this pivotal moment between free will and predestination. How do you see the context in which the work exists now? Editor: Interesting question. We’re obviously no longer using engravings as means of transmitting religious teachings but as a preserved form and material object which can shed light on earlier modes of image-making and distribution. Plus, this intaglio process allows us to access not just the image but also to think about labor differently— whose work it depends on to reach completion. Curator: The placement of the sleeping figures and the impending mob in the background generates an overwhelming sense of unease, while also referencing an important social history. Editor: It gives you so much to think about the nature of reproduction and meaning. Curator: A striking visual demonstration that resonates beyond its time. Editor: A remarkable work demonstrating complex production, and complex legacies.