Entombment of Christ

A group of mourners, including the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene, gather in a dark cave to bury Christ. In the foreground, the crown of thorns lies on the ground, while a separate group of figures in contemporary 16th-century dress stands in the background near a second cave opening. The print uses an archaic engraving style characterized by fine, dense lines to mimic the work of earlier northern masters.

Created as part of Goltzius's 'Master Prints' series, this work reflects the Haarlem Mannerists' obsession with the historical lineage of Northern art, specifically imitating Lucas van Leyden. In the context of early modern spirituality, such images served as objects for the 'Devotio Moderna,' a practice of internalizing the Passion through intense visual meditation.