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The Entombment

ca. 1654
Not on view
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.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Entombment
  • Artist: Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn) (Dutch, Leiden 1606–1669 Amsterdam)
  • Date: ca. 1654
  • Medium: Etching and drypoint ; first of four states
  • Dimensions: Plate: 8 5/16 × 6 5/16 in. (21.1 × 16 cm)
    Sheet: 8 7/16 × 6 7/16 in. (21.4 × 16.4 cm)
    Frame: 21 × 16 in. (53.3 × 40.6 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: The Sylmaris Collection, Gift of George Coe Graves, 1920
  • Object Number: 20.46.17
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

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Abraham Casting out Hagar and Ishmael, Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn) Dutch, Etching with touches of drypoint
Abraham Casting out Hagar and Ishmael
Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn)
1637
St. Jerome Reading, Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn) Dutch, Etching
St. Jerome Reading
Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn)
1634
Return of the Prodigal Son, Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn) Dutch, Etching, pen and ink
Return of the Prodigal Son
Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn)
1620–69
St. Jerome in Prayer, Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn) Dutch, Etching
St. Jerome in Prayer
Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn)
1635
Portrait of Lieven Willemsz van Coppenol, Writing Master (the larger plate), Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn) Dutch, Etching and drypoint; fourth state
Portrait of Lieven Willemsz van Coppenol, Writing Master (the larger plate)
Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn)
1658

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