The Raising of Lazarus: The Larger Plate

The Raising of Lazarus: The Larger Plate by Rembrandt van Rijn Dutch, 1606-1669, is a foundational work of early 17th-century printmaking, executed primarily between 1627 and 1637. This significant example of the Dutch Golden Age artistic tradition utilizes the demanding medium of etching on paper. Unlike earlier prints where the artist focused primarily on delicate line work, this piece demonstrates a developing mastery of light and shadow, achieved through a variety of deeply bitten lines and complex cross-hatching to create dramatic chiaroscuro effects.

The work illustrates the biblical passage from the Gospel of John, depicting Christ summoning Lazarus from the darkness of the tomb. Rembrandt heightens the drama by strategically positioning the figure of Christ in a strongly illuminated central column, contrasting sharply with the cavernous gloom surrounding the resurrected Lazarus. The astonished reactions of the surrounding figures emphasize the magnitude of the miracle. This innovative handling of the subject established the print as a major iconographic reference point within the religious art of the Netherlands.

Classified formally as a print, this impression is known as the "Larger Plate" to differentiate it from a smaller version Rembrandt created later in his career. The execution period, spanning multiple years, reflects the artist’s continual reworking of the plate to refine the interplay of light and shadow. The importance of this work is affirmed by its inclusion in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a celebrated example of 17th-century prints, high-quality images of this masterwork are widely available through the public domain, securing its legacy as a definitive statement of Rembrandt’s skills as a printmaker.