Christus slaapt aan boord van het schip tijdens de storm 1663 - 1674

Jan van Ossenbeeck’s etching, "Christ Asleep During the Storm," masterfully uses line and composition to evoke a sense of turmoil. The chaotic arrangement of the figures on the ship is juxtaposed against the abstract representation of the stormy sea. Notice how Ossenbeeck employs hatching and cross-hatching to build tonal depth. The direction of these lines curves and swells to suggest dynamic movement. Here, the linear patterns function semiotically, turning a potentially literal depiction into a symbolic representation of chaos. The diagonal tilt of the ship destabilizes the composition, mirroring the psychological distress of the figures depicted. This etching is not merely an illustration but a meditation on faith, reason, and the overwhelming power of nature. It shows the tension between human fragility and the divine presence amidst crisis. As you look closer, consider how the formal elements of line and form contribute to its enduring impact.