Doop van Christus 1549

"Doop van Christus" (Baptism of Christ), a 1549 etching by Dirck Volckertsz Coornhert, depicts the biblical scene of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus. The drawing is composed of meticulous detail, capturing the moment with clarity. The figures of John and Jesus are central, surrounded by a landscape with a dove descending from the heavens and onlookers witnessing the event. The work showcases Coornhert's talent for rendering human anatomy, clothing, and a sense of depth, characteristic of the Northern Renaissance style. This small-scale etching, housed at the Rijksmuseum, exemplifies Coornhert’s mastery of this technique and his ability to convey religious narratives with visual intensity.