Artwork
The Lamentation
The Lamentation is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1520 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
The Lamentation, attributed to the artist catalogued as 3361_person, is a black‑and‑white photograph dating from around 1520. The image is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. It portrays a mournful gathering surrounding a recumbent figure, employing stark tonal contrasts to convey a somber mood.
Subject & Meaning
At the centre of the composition lies a man draped in white cloth, his head cradled on the lap of a woman in a dark robe and white head covering. Adjacent objects—a skull and a bowl—evoke themes of mortality and loss, while two cruciform silhouettes in the distance suggest a broader context of suffering.
Technique & Style
The photograph relies on chiaroscuro, the deliberate juxtaposition of deep shadows and bright highlights, to focus attention on the central figures. This dramatic lighting creates a three‑dimensional effect within the flat medium, accentuating the emotional intensity of the scene without the use of colour.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1520, the work has been preserved within the holdings of the Museum of Ethnography. Its attribution to 3361_person reflects the cataloguing system of the institution, and the piece has remained in the museum’s collection since its acquisition, where it is displayed as part of the ethnographic photography archive.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
