Opwekking van Lazarus 1728

This etching, *The Raising of Lazarus*, was created by Gilliam van der Gouwen. The monochromatic image is dominated by stark contrasts between light and shadow, creating a dramatic scene set within a cavernous tomb. Linear elements define the figures and architectural details, providing a sense of depth and spatial organization. The lines articulate the tension between the living and the resurrected. The composition is structured to guide the viewer's eye from the darkness of the cave to the illuminated figure of Lazarus, emphasizing the moment of miraculous revival. The lines of sight converge on Lazarus, underscoring the theatricality of the event. This staging complicates ideas of death and the supernatural as a visible moment. Consider how the stark formal elements of light and shadow interact to evoke emotional and intellectual responses. The image prompts us to question fixed meanings and explore art's capacity to destabilize established categories of life and death.