Christus in de hof van Getsemane 1629 - 1740

Christoffel van Sichem II created this small yet powerful woodcut, depicting Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, sometime before his death in 1658. Woodcut is a relief printing process, where the artist carves away the negative space from a block of wood, leaving the design to be inked and printed. The stark contrast and graphic quality of the woodcut lend themselves well to the dramatic scene. Note the dense lines which create a sense of depth and shadow, particularly in the gnarled trees and rocky landscape. This labour-intensive process required careful planning and skilled execution. Sichem’s mastery is evident in the intricate details, from the expressive faces of the figures to the symbolic elements, which evoke a mood of spiritual intensity. Consider the socio-economic context: printmaking allowed for wider dissemination of religious imagery, catering to a growing market for devotional art. Woodcuts, being relatively inexpensive to produce, made art accessible to a broader audience. Sichem’s work reflects the intersection of artistic skill, religious belief, and the burgeoning print culture of the 17th century.