Graflegging 1676 - 1719

Johannes Rentiers’s etching “Graflegging” depicts the burial of Christ. Created between 1676 and 1719, the print shows Christ being laid in the tomb with a group of figures looking on. In the foreground, a woman kneels while another woman lies down with her head resting on a man’s lap. The scene is set in a cave, with a lantern hanging overhead and a cross-shaped vine growing in the upper left. This piece exemplifies the Baroque style, characterized by dramatic lighting, ornate details, and a sense of movement and emotion. "Graflegging" is a testament to the profound impact of religious imagery in art.