Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola, called Parmigianino
Italian, 1503-1540
The Entombment, c. 1527-1531
Etching and drypoint

Mourning figures circle in profound grief, laying Christ’s lifeless body down to be entombed. Christ seems to recline, his body elegantly rendered, with exaggerated limbs and beautifully intricate faces, demonstrating the artist’s Italian Mannerist style. Parmigianino handles the etching needle as spontaneously as a freehand pen and ink drawing. The first Italian artist to harness the possibilities of etching, Parmigianino is recognized for his influence and innovations to the medium. His use of copper plates, rather than steel or iron used for early etchings, enabled him to create shallower, softer lines. In The Entombment, an exemplar of early printmaking and Parmigianino’s best-known print, a fine film of ink is kept on the surface of the plate, adding a moody haze to the solemn scene.