Who painted The Entombment?

The Entombment was painted by Jacques Callot in 1610.

Where can I see The Entombment?

The Entombment is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Entombment?

The Entombment is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

The Entombment

Jacques Callot , 1610

The Entombment is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacques Callot. It dates from 1610 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Jacques Callot’s *The Entombation* is an engraving executed on laid paper in 1610. The print depicts the moment Christ’s body is being placed in a stone tomb, surrounded by mournful yet composed figures. The composition is rendered with stark contrasts of deep shadow and fine, sketch‑like lines that suggest both gravity and delicacy.

Subject & Meaning

The scene illustrates a central episode from the Passion narrative, focusing on the physical act of burial rather than overt emotional display. The restrained expressions of the surrounding figures convey a solemn acceptance, inviting contemplation of sacrifice and the transition from death to resurrection.

Technique & Style

Callot employed the traditional engraving method, incising the image with a needle onto a copper plate before inking and pressing it onto paper. His use of cross‑hatching creates dense tonal areas, while lighter, more open strokes suggest illumination, a hallmark of his precise, almost draughtsman‑like approach.

Context

Created amid the early‑seventeenth‑century turmoil of wars and epidemics that afflicted Europe, the work reflects the period’s preoccupation with religious consolation. Callot, a native of the Duchy of Lorraine, was active during the Baroque era, a time when dramatic religious imagery served both devotional and didactic purposes.

Legacy

*The Entombment* exemplifies Callot’s contribution to the development of printmaking techniques, particularly his refinement of engraving and cross‑hatching. The piece stands among more than 1,400 prints he produced, influencing later artists who sought to combine narrative depth with technical virtuosity.