The Entombment

The Entombment

Jan Witdoeck

1650

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This print shows a group of people around a dead body wrapped in cloth. One woman kneels, holding a child, while others stand or crouch nearby, looking sad or worried. The background has rough rocks and a dim light, making the scene feel dark and heavy. The artist used strong contrasts between light and shadow to show emotions and shapes. This was a common way to draw attention to certain parts of the scene. Look up chiaroscuro to learn more about this dramatic lighting technique.

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