The Resurrection of Lazarus: The Smaller Plate 1642

Editor: This is Rembrandt van Rijn's etching, "The Resurrection of Lazarus: The Smaller Plate". It's quite small, roughly 15 by 11 centimeters. The mood is intense, with that stark contrast between light and shadow. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Note how Rembrandt uses a dense network of lines to create a sense of drama and movement. Observe the tonal gradations achieved through the density and directionality of these lines. The composition itself leads the eye to the figure of Lazarus emerging from darkness. Editor: So, it’s the structure of the lines, the composition itself, that communicates the narrative? Curator: Precisely. The materiality of the etching, the starkness of the lines, amplifies the themes of life and death, and the transition between. What do you make of the cave in the background? Editor: I see how even the background is part of the overall composition. It adds depth and reinforces the darkness from which Lazarus is emerging. Thanks, that was enlightening. Curator: Indeed, a close reading of the formal elements reveals the power of Rembrandt's vision.