The Resurrection, plate twelve from The Passion of Christ

Art Historical Context

Behold *The Resurrection*, plate twelve from Hendrick Goltzius's series *The Passion of* (1596), an engraving in black on cream laid paper held in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints Drawings collection. Goltzius, a Dutch engraver of the Mannerist era, captures the triumphant moment of Christ's rising from the tomb, surrounded by radiant light and awestruck guards. This small yet dynamic image (19.7 × 13.1 cm) exemplifies the artist's virtuosic technique, where intricate line work builds dramatic volume, movement, and emotion, rivaling the effects of oil painting. As part of a 12-plate series narrating key events from Christ's final days, this work reflects the late 16th-century Northern Renaissance's blend of religious devotion and artistic innovation. Engravings like this were revolutionary for their reproducibility, allowing widespread dissemination of sacred imagery during a time of religious upheaval in the Netherlands. Goltzius's bold, swelling lines and exaggerated poses draw from Italian Mannerism, infusing the biblical scene with intense energy and humanism. This print not only showcases engraving's precision on laid paper—its textured surface enhancing the ink's depth—but also invites viewers to ponder resurrection's hope amid turmoil, a timeless message in compact form.

About the Artist

Hendrick Goltzius · 1558–1617

Hendrick Goltzius (1558–1617) was the most celebrated engraver of the Northern Renaissance and a pivotal figure in Dutch Mannerism. Born near the German-Dutch border, Goltzius transformed printmaking into a virtuoso art form through his revolutionary 'swelling line' technique, where the burin was manipulated to create lines of varying thickness that produced unprecedented tonal effects and three-d...