Cristo Ressuscitado Abençoando 

Álvaro Pires de Évora painted this image of the resurrected Christ, holding a white flag with a red cross, likely in the 15th century. This flag, a symbol of victory, represents Christ's triumph over death. His raised hand in blessing is a gesture echoed through centuries of religious art, from Byzantine icons to Renaissance frescoes. Consider, for example, the motif of the "triumphant banner," seen in Roman military standards and later adopted by Christian armies. The cross itself, once a symbol of suffering, becomes a beacon of hope. Yet, the echo of its painful origins lingers, reminding us of the complex interplay between despair and salvation. Observe also the golden background, a common feature in the Byzantine tradition, suggesting divine light. The composition, frozen in time, invites meditation on these symbols, evoking deep emotional responses linked to our collective memory. These motifs, deeply embedded in our cultural consciousness, remind us that symbols never truly die; they resurface, transformed, carrying the weight of history.