De maaltijd te Emmaüs

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 240

Art Historical Context

Jacobus Buys’s 1765 etching *De maaltijd te Emmaüs* captures the poignant New Testament moment when the risen Christ reveals himself to two disciples during supper at Emmaus. Working in the Dutch Republic during the mid-eighteenth century, Buys translated this familiar biblical into a modest yet expressive print measuring roughly 25 by 19 centimeters. The restrained line work and intimate scale invite quiet contemplation, reflecting the period’s continued interest in religious subjects even as secular themes gained popularity. Etching allowed artists like Buys to reach wider audiences beyond church or palace walls. By incising the composition into a metal plate and printing multiple impressions, Buys participated in a long Dutch tradition of reproductive printmaking that made devotional imagery accessible to collectors and worshippers alike. The presence of the Lugt 240 collector’s stamp on the verso further attests to the print’s journey through distinguished cabinets, underscoring how such works were valued and preserved across generations. Today the etching offers visitors a glimpse into both the enduring power of the Emmaus story and the technical elegance of eighteenth-century Dutch print culture.

About the Artist

Jacobus Buys · 1724–1801

Comment on works: Portraits; History; Genre; Vignettes