The Entombment

Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn)

ca. 1654 · Etching and drypoint ; first of four states · Drawings and Prints

The Entombment demonstrates the combination of firm rectilinear draftsmanship and evocative tone that Rembrandt achieved in his graphic work of the 1650s. The two states of the etching (see also 23.51.7) show Rembrandt's ability to dramatically transform a single image into two strikingly different works of art. Here Rembrandt used the traditional method of wiping the plate clean before printing. As a result, only the ink remaining in the lines cut into the copperplate transferred onto the paper. He created a sense of flickering light by modifying the density of the hatching.

Artist

Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn)

Date

ca. 1654

Medium

Etching and drypoint ; first of four states

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

The Sylmaris Collection, Gift of George Coe Graves, 1920