The Entombment

The Entombment by Rembrandt van Rijn (1649-1659) is a profound example of the artist’s later exploration of religious themes through printmaking. This specific impression, classified as the second of four known states, showcases Rembrandt’s masterful control over multiple intaglio techniques, combining etching, drypoint, and engraving to achieve varied textural effects and deep tonal contrasts essential to the scene’s emotional intensity.

The composition depicts the somber moment following the Crucifixion, focusing on the actions of the devoted Men and Women preparing to lay the body of Christ to rest. Created across a decade, this complex print reflects Rembrandt’s mature understanding of emotional dynamics. He minimizes extraneous detail, focusing instead on the physical labor and internalized grief of the figures, whose faces are often obscured by shadow or turned away from the light.

Rembrandt uses the drypoint technique heavily, particularly in the foreground figures and deep shadows, giving the work rich, velvety blacks that contrast sharply with the central figure of Christ, illuminated by an otherworldly source. This dramatic chiaroscuro treatment, characteristic of the Dutch Baroque, guides the viewer’s eye through the narrative of death and devotion. As one of the most significant religious prints by the artist, the work resides in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Today, reproductions of this historical image are frequently made available through public domain collections, ensuring the enduring accessibility of Rembrandt's mastery.