Lamentation, from Passion of Christ

Art Historical Context

This engraving by Jan Sadeler I captures Lamentation, a poignant scene from the Passion of Christ in which mourners gather around the body of Jesus after the Crucifixion. Created between 1575 and 1600, the work belongs to a larger series illustrating key moments in Christ’s final days. Its intimate scale—measuring just 16 by 11.5 centimeters—invites close viewing, allowing the fine lines and expressive figures to convey deep emotion and narrative detail. As an engraving printed in black ink on cream laid paper, the piece highlights the medium’s remarkable capacity for precision and reproducibility. Engraving techniques of the late sixteenth century enabled artists to distribute religious imagery widely across Europe, reaching audiences far beyond church walls or private collections. Sadeler’s careful control of line and shading brings a sense of volume and pathos to the composition, demonstrating how prints could rival paintings in emotional impact while remaining accessible. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago’s Prints and Drawings department, this work reflects the vital role of printmaking in shaping religious devotion and visual culture during the period. Its survival on laid paper offers visitors a tangible connection to the devotional practices and artistic innovations of the time.

About the Artist

Jan Sadeler, I · 1550–1600

Jan Sadeler I (1550–1600) was born in Brussels and became the most prominent member of the largest and most successful dynasty of Flemish printmakers in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The Sadeler family — which included Jan's brothers Aegidius and Raphael — produced an extraordinary volume of engravings that circulated across Catholic Europe, disseminating images of religious subjects, p...