Christus at Emmaus: the smaller plate 1636

Here we see an etching, portraying a biblical scene, rendered with delicate lines on a small plate. The composition is striking for its use of light and shadow, a chiaroscuro effect which creates a sense of drama and intimacy. The figures are gathered around a table, with light concentrated on Christ's face, drawing our eye to the center of the scene. The artist's structural arrangement encourages a reading of the work through the lens of semiotics. Note the halo around Christ. It serves not only as a marker of divinity but also operates as a signifier within the broader cultural code of Christian iconography. What meaning do we take from the presence of the dog? How do the linear strokes around the composition destabilize the main scene? This interplay suggests an engagement with themes of revelation and hidden truths.