Bewening van Christus 1931

Huib Luns made this lithograph ‘Bewening van Christus’ but we don’t know exactly when. There is something immediate about the stark greyscale palette, a process that feels laid bare. Take a moment to look at the textures Luns creates; see the dark, shadowy background contrasting with the smooth surface of Christ’s body? The artist's hand feels close somehow, especially in the fine lines used to define his features, and the drapery. The way his limp hand rests on his body, there is a real sensitivity here. It's impossible to view an image like this without thinking of earlier artists who have depicted the same scene – Mantegna, perhaps. You feel art history echoing through the piece, and that’s exciting. Art’s not made in a vacuum, it’s an ongoing conversation.