Crucifixion 1957

Chaim Koppelman’s print presents us with an emotionally charged scene centered around the crucifixion, rendered in stark monochrome. The figure on the cross echoes centuries of Christian iconography, representing sacrifice and redemption. Yet, Koppelman infuses this traditional symbol with visceral potency by juxtaposing it with unsettling images: a giant beetle looms in the foreground, a symbol of decay, perhaps, or the creeping darkness of the soul. We see a baby held aloft, like a twisted offering. Consider the ‘Ecce Homo’ motif, where Christ is presented to the masses. The emotional tension inherent in this gesture appears in antiquity and the Renaissance, embodying suffering and resignation. Here, it speaks to a collective memory of trauma and despair. The image engages viewers on a subconscious level, inviting contemplation on themes of life, death, and the cyclical nature of history. These symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings.