The Entombment c. 1655

Editor: This is "The Entombment", a print by Jeremias Falck from around 1655. It looks like an engraving on paper. The somber scene definitely evokes a feeling of grief. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, look closely at the engraving itself. How does the process influence our understanding of this moment in history? Consider the labor involved, the social context that necessitated printmaking as a medium. Editor: The fine lines and details must have taken incredible skill. And the print would have allowed for wider distribution, making the image accessible to more people... almost like early mass production. Curator: Exactly! The choice of engraving impacts how the subject is received. Engraving creates reproducible images. Religious scenes became commodities. Note the objects at the left. What materials were involved? And what does it tell us about the culture of the time? Editor: I see a basket, rope, a ceramic pot… everyday items. Including them makes the scene relatable, connecting this religious event to common material experiences. The body is the core material for depiction. Curator: Precisely. It is an examination of labor and a depiction of biblical passage that has also undergone labour to reach its present material state. So how does viewing the Entombment through the lens of material culture change your perspective? Editor: I’d say it moves it away from pure religious symbolism and allows me to appreciate the tangible realities behind the image and the means by which it reached such a wide audience. I see a network of human relationships centered on creation, dissemination, and consumption. Curator: And this offers a critical reflection on value - artistic, economic, and even spiritual. Thank you. Editor: Thank you for expanding my view of it.