Houten beeld van Christoffel van Lycië in de dom van Bamberg c. 1900 - 1920

This is a wooden sculpture of Saint Christopher carrying the Christ Child, and the symbols embedded within it resonate deeply with our shared cultural memory. Saint Christopher, the giant, is here burdened by the weight of the infant Christ, a motif that speaks to the overwhelming responsibility and spiritual gravity he has undertaken. This image has its roots in ancient myths where the strong carry the weak across tumultuous waters. This echoes in the imagery of Atlas bearing the world, where the hero figure is seen as a protector and a pillar of strength. The motif of carrying a divine child is an archetype, reappearing in various forms across cultures and eras. This reflects the universal human need for guidance and protection. By association, this particular scene evokes a psychoanalytic narrative of burdens that weigh upon us, and how we carry our personal and collective burdens. The motif progresses, revealing that these burdens can become our salvation. The continuous evolution and adaptation of such figures throughout history are powerful reminders of the enduring nature of symbolic expression.