Christus aan het kruis 1761 - 1804

This print of Christ on the Cross was made by the workshop of the Widow Jacobus van Egmont. It's a powerful image of the crucifixion, framed by the sun, the moon, and representations of the Evangelists. Made in Amsterdam, it reflects the religious and social climate of the Netherlands. The image of the crucified Christ, flanked by Mary and other religious figures, evokes the intense religious feelings of the time, yet we can see the influence of the Reformation in the comparative simplicity of the artwork. Printmaking in the Netherlands had a long and esteemed institutional history, and this piece would have been relatively inexpensive to produce. To truly understand an image like this, we must remember its original function and how it was received by its intended audience. We might consider what the Reformation meant for artistic production, and how this print fits into the culture of family-run printing businesses.