Christus in de hof van Getsemane 1693

Samuel Bottschild’s "Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane" is an etching, notable for its dramatic use of line and shadow, organized within an octagonal format. The composition surges upward, leading the eye from the sleeping figures at the base to the ethereal vision above. The stark contrast between the densely hatched foreground and the lighter, cloud-filled upper portion creates a palpable sense of spatial depth and spiritual ascension. Bottschild employs line not merely to define form but to evoke texture and emotion, with dense, chaotic lines suggesting earthly turmoil and finer lines conveying divine grace. The figure of Christ, supported by an angel bearing a cross, is presented in a suspended state, a visual metaphor for the burden and anticipation of his sacrifice. This interplay between form and content challenges conventional religious iconography by imbuing the scene with a deeply personal and psychological dimension. The octagonal frame further contains the visual chaos within the scene, and serves to remind us that even the most expressive artworks are a product of calculated formal decisions.