Graflegging 1670 - 1682

This etching, "Graflegging," was created by Melchior Küsel in the 17th century, and resides here at the Rijksmuseum. The composition immediately draws our eye to the dramatic interplay between light and shadow. The artist uses line and texture to create the rough texture of the rocky landscape against the smooth skin of the figures. The scene is meticulously organized, drawing us in through contrasting forms of light and dark. The eye is led from the cave's opening to the distant crosses, each element carefully placed to guide our perception. Küsel's handling of space and depth reflects a keen understanding of perspective, where we see the foreground, midground, and background with precision. Note how the crosses on the hill, symbols of death, stand in stark contrast to the communal gathering around the body of Christ. In examining Küsel's choices, it becomes evident that the artwork is a complex network of signs which invites us to reflect on the human, the divine, and the spaces in between.