Christ in the winepress 

Editor: This is "Christ in the Winepress," a red-chalk drawing by Jonas Umbach, housed at the Städel Museum. It’s… curious, isn't it? I mean, Christ in what looks like a well, surrounded by adoring angels. It's so different from the typical crucifixion scene. What strikes you most when you look at this piece? Curator: Ah, Jonas Umbach. He had a flair for the dramatic, didn’t he? When I look at this, I see a blend of Baroque theatricality and profound symbolism. Imagine, if you will, the artist, hunched over his drawing, wrestling with the very idea of sacrifice. Christ as the living source, the water gushing forth – a powerful, if slightly unusual, depiction of salvation, don’t you think? Editor: Unusual is putting it mildly! But that "living source" idea… I hadn't considered it that way. Is that well-like structure actually supposed to be a winepress, though? The title threw me off, I guess. Curator: Good question. Remember, a winepress is all about transformation through crushing, pressing. Christ's sacrifice, His suffering, transforms into salvation, into something life-giving – like wine, or the water here. Consider how the angels frame him, some almost mournful, others celebratory. It is complex! But does that complexity deepen your appreciation, or make you question its effect? Editor: I think it does both, actually. It’s unsettling but compelling, a visual puzzle with potentially endless interpretations. And the fact that it's a drawing, a sketch, almost, makes it feel more intimate, like we're seeing a raw, unfiltered idea. Curator: Exactly. Perhaps that’s where its true power lies - not in perfect resolution, but in the invitation to engage, to grapple with its inherent ambiguities. It nudges us to find our own meaning. It makes you wonder... where do YOU find the transformative moments in life's struggles? Editor: Definitely food for thought. I appreciate seeing it in a new light. Thanks for that! Curator: The pleasure was all mine. Sometimes, a fresh perspective is all we need to unlock a hidden world.