Kristus og Nikodemus 1674

"Kristus og Nikodemus" (Christ and Nicodemus), a 1674 drawing by Johan Keyll, depicts a scene from the Bible where Jesus teaches Nicodemus, a Jewish leader, about the necessity of being born again. The detailed and intimate scene, set in a dimly lit interior, emphasizes the spiritual conversation between the two figures through careful use of light and shadow. The checkerboard floor and the architectural details, along with the presence of two dogs in the foreground, ground the biblical story in a realistic and relatable setting. This drawing exemplifies Keyll's mastery of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts of light and dark to create a sense of depth and drama. It is currently housed at SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, Denmark.