Hemelvaart van Christus 1606

Wolfgang Kilian made this print, Hemelvaart van Christus, depicting Christ's ascension into heaven. Kilian was working in Augsburg, Germany, at a time of significant religious and political upheaval. The Peace of Augsburg, signed in 1555, had attempted to resolve tensions between Catholics and Protestants, but conflicts persisted. Here, Kilian visualizes the ascension as a theatrical event, with Christ rising amidst a flurry of angels and billowing clouds. Below, the apostles gaze upwards, their faces a mix of awe and bewilderment. This scene is less about quiet reverence and more about a public display of divine power. The print, in its emphasis on spectacle and hierarchical order, reflects the Counter-Reformation's efforts to reassert the authority of the Catholic Church through art. At the same time, it speaks to the intensely personal and emotional connection that believers sought with the divine. The figures are caught in a moment of transition, between earthly and heavenly realms, and perhaps between doubt and belief. Ultimately, Kilian's print captures the complex interplay between faith, power, and personal experience in a world undergoing profound transformation.