The Opening of the Seventh Seal 1546 - 1556

Jean Duvet created this engraving, “The Opening of the Seventh Seal,” in the 16th century, amidst the religious and social upheavals of the Reformation. Duvet's fantastical, crowded composition renders a scene from the Book of Revelation. God sits enthroned above a tumultuous landscape where angels sound trumpets, signaling cataclysmic events. Below, the dead rise. Duvet was deeply spiritual. His religious convictions, coupled with the societal anxieties of his time, shaped the apocalyptic vision seen here. The artist wasn't formally trained, and his unique style diverges from the prevailing artistic norms of the Renaissance. Note how he eschews linear perspective. Instead he emphasizes expressive line work and densely packed imagery. The image radiates an emotional intensity, typical of the religious art of the period. Duvet’s highly personal and expressive approach to engraving provides insight into the religious fervor and existential anxieties of the 16th century.