The Entombment of Christ 1759

Johann Zick's "The Entombment of Christ" uses brown ink and wash on laid paper. Born in 1702, Zick lived during a time of strict social and religious norms, yet this image departs from traditional representations of grief. Two women are at the center of the scene locked in an embrace, embodying a radical vision of mourning. The viewer is invited to consider these women in the context of traditional gender roles and expectations during Zick's era. Were they simply mourners, or might they also represent hidden desires and forbidden intimacies? The cherubs playing musical instruments are symbols of love, while the embrace could signify shared grief, and perhaps the solidarity that emerges in times of loss. The artwork resonates on a personal level, as it captures the raw and unfiltered experience of grief. How does Zick's "Entombment" shape or reflect societal issues related to gender, sexuality, and the expression of emotions?