Christ Preaching ('La Petite Tombe')

Christ Preaching ('La Petite Tombe') — Rembrandt van Rijn. c. 1652.

Medium: etching, drypoint, and burin. Dimensions: Sheet: 15.8 x 21 cm (6 1/4 x 8 1/4 in.); Platemark: 15.5 x 20.7 cm (6 1/8 x 8 1/8 in.).

Collection record: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland. Museum connection according to this source; current display unverified.

Rembrandt’s prints with biblical subject matter often focus on Christ’s relationships with ordinary people. Here, he depicted Christ preaching in a humble village, with onlookers ranging from distracted children to turbaned merchants. Rembrandt worked more prolifically in etching than any artist before him, using it for about 300 prints. This work demonstrates the draftsman-like, sketchy technique he brought to the medium. In this impression, he allowed ink to remain on the plate’s surface during printing to create the dramatic shadows in the background, producing a contrast to the spiritual glow of light emanating from Christ.

Source: official collection record. Metadata selected and normalized by Artline from the source export, accessed 10 September 2026; no museum endorsement. Reproduction rights are separate.