Christ Preaching ('La Petite Tombe')

Rembrandt’s prints with biblical subject matter often focus on Christ’s relationships with ordinary people. Here, he depicted Christ preaching in a humble village, with onlookers ranging from distracted children to turbaned merchants. Rembrandt worked more prolifically in etching than any artist before him, using it for about 300 prints. This work demonstrates the draftsman-like, sketchy technique he brought to the medium. In this impression, he allowed ink to remain on the plate’s surface during printing to create the dramatic shadows in the background, producing a contrast to the spiritual glow of light emanating from Christ.

A horizontally oriented black ink print depicts Christ centrally on a raised stone platform. With arms raised and palms forward, he stands beneath a thin halo. Crowds with light skin tones gather around him; some stand to the left, while others sit or kneel to the right. In the foreground, a child lies prone. Fine cross-hatching creates deep shadows and architectural textures in the background, emphasizing the light focused on the central figures.

Christ Preaching ('La Petite Tombe')

c. 1652

Rembrandt van Rijn

(Dutch, 1606–1669)

Netherlands

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