The Angels Addressing the Holy Women at the Tomb 

Peter Paul Rubens created "The Angels Addressing the Holy Women at the Tomb" using engraving techniques to articulate its stark contrasts. The composition is divided into two distinct halves: radiant angels on the left and a cluster of women on the right. Light is used to dramatic effect, bathing the angels in a bright glow that starkly contrasts with the shadows enveloping the women. This contrast isn't merely aesthetic; it functions as a signifier of divine presence versus human perception, a common semiotic device in religious art. Rubens’s use of line and shadow shapes the women’s forms and drapes, creating a sense of volume and emotional depth. The women’s reactions range from shock to curiosity, their expressions and gestures rendered with careful attention to psychological nuance. This moment of revelation is framed not just as a biblical event but as an exploration of human response to the sublime.