Kruisoprichting 1831 - 1890

Jean Baptiste Pierre Michiels created this print titled 'Kruisoprichting' without a specified date using etching techniques. Immediately, the clustering of figures demands attention, arranged almost as a pyramid straining upwards. The stark contrast between light and shadow sculpts the figures, lending them a heightened sense of drama and physicality. We can see the figures struggling to lift the cross, their muscular forms rendered with careful attention to anatomical detail. The composition guides the viewer's eye from the base of the scene, where onlookers gather, up towards the central figure of Christ. The use of line in this etching is particularly striking. Short, decisive strokes define the contours of the bodies, while a denser network of lines creates depth and shadow. This meticulous rendering enhances the emotional intensity of the scene. Here, the formal elements work together to convey a powerful narrative.