De graflegging van Christus 1617 - 1624

Dirck van Baburen created this engraving, "The Entombment of Christ," sometime around 1620 in the Dutch Republic. The engraving depicts the body of Christ being prepared for burial, surrounded by grieving figures. Baburen was part of the Utrecht School, a group of Dutch artists who had traveled to Italy and were influenced by the dramatic style of Caravaggio. The intense emotions, stark lighting, and realistic depiction of the figures are all hallmarks of this influence. The Dutch Republic was a Protestant nation, but religious art was still produced, often for private devotion. This engraving would have been part of a larger visual culture that included paintings, sculptures, and prints. Its themes reflect both the general culture of the Dutch Republic and the artist's own interpretation of the subject. To fully understand this work, we might consult period documents, theological treatises, and art market records. This gives insight into the social and institutional contexts that shaped its creation.