Christ Preaching ('La Petite Tombe')

Rembrandt returned to the subject of Christ preaching with this more tightly composed work. Again, Christ dominates the center of this etching, but the chaotic assembly found in "The Hundred Guilder Print" has been replaced by a group of rapt devotees, engrossed in the sermon being presented to them. Rembrandt cleverly separated the divine Christ from his followers by placing him on a raised ledge. But look closely—the platform is nearly blank, giving the impression that Christ is levitating.

Once again, Rembrandt depicted the congregants with fresh individualism and a spectrum of variation, making this biblical event feel part of our real world. Rembrandt was careful to add behavioral realism. Notice that the young boy at the bottom is more interested in drawing in the dirt with his finger than in listening to Christ’s sermon.