Bewening van Christus 1931

This is Huib Luns's 'Bewening van Christus' at the Rijksmuseum, made with etching. The composition is sombre, with figures cloaked in shadow and grief. I can only imagine how it would have felt to bring this to life, how the artist’s own emotions shifted as they worked on the plate, each line a deliberate mark. Look at the textures, how the etching creates a sense of depth and volume with such restraint. The subtle gradations of tone give everything a delicate appearance. Luns would have looked at the great masters like Rembrandt and thought, how can I make this scene my own? The act of creating art is like a conversation, each artist echoing and responding to those who came before. You see in each gesture how one can speak of loss, with forms that hint at more than they show. It’s about feeling, empathy, and the power of suggestion. It’s not about finality, but a process.