Graflegging 1656 - 1706

Étienne Gantrel created this print, "Graflegging," in the late 17th century, a period defined by rigid social hierarchies and religious authority. Here, Gantrel depicts the entombment of Christ, a common subject in art intended to stir religious sentiment and affirm Christian doctrine. What might strike us today is how the scene also subtly reinforces the gendered roles of the time. The women are portrayed in their grief, tenderly caring for Christ's body, embodying compassion, while the male figure sits to the side, his eyes cast towards the heavens, seemingly lost in contemplation. Gantrel's print invites reflection on the emotional and spiritual dimensions of faith while also highlighting the ways in which art can reflect and shape the societal expectations of its time.