Kruisafneming c. 1518

Ugo da Carpi’s “Descent from the Cross” captures a pivotal moment through the stark lines of a chiaroscuro woodcut. The cross dominates, an ancient symbol of suffering and redemption, central to Christian iconography. See how the figures removing Christ echo classical depictions of mourning, gestures that trace back to ancient Greece and Rome. This motif of lamentation, the drooping body, the supporting arms, reappears across centuries, a visual echo chamber of human grief. Consider the 'deposition' scene; the figures are arranged so that the body of Christ is the focal point, a motif reminiscent of earlier works depicting this scene. The emotional weight is palpable. It's a visceral tableau that transcends its immediate religious context, tapping into our collective memory of loss and empathy, a potent reminder of our shared humanity.