The Raising of Lazarus c. 1530 - 1535

Editor: Here we have Aertgen Claesz. van Leyden's "The Raising of Lazarus", painted in oil sometime between 1530 and 1535. It has such a peculiar stillness to it; the two figures almost seem frozen in time. What initially captures your attention in this work? Curator: Well, isn't it striking how Leyden melds the sacred with the mundane? Lazarus seems almost an afterthought – the focus is certainly on the portrait-like quality of the two figures, caught in this somewhat staged drama. I'm intrigued by the contrast, wouldn't you say, between the somber black robe of the foreground figure and the vibrant red of the figure in the back. What kind of dialogue do you think Leyden is attempting? Is it purely narrative or does it speak to deeper truths? Editor: That's a great question. I was so focused on the surface I almost missed what you described as Leyden’s intended dialog! The contrasting colors and, even more noticeably, how different the men are posed adds nuance. Curator: Indeed. Perhaps he's wrestling with the very idea of faith. The man in the red is partially dressed, barefoot, almost vulnerable, whilst the younger man is cloaked in serious intent. You start to wonder which one believes, and how does belief get translated into action? Editor: It almost looks as if Leyden is questioning rather than celebrating faith. A very insightful painting! Curator: Perhaps… Art, like life, doesn't always offer easy answers, does it? That is its great power!