Kruisdraging c. 1778 - 1838

Anthonie van den Bos created this print of the "Bearing of the Cross" sometime before 1838. The use of etching allows for the story to unfold through a network of fine lines. The composition is dominated by the horizontal burden of the cross, which slices across the frame, dividing the figures. This emphasizes not only the physical weight of the cross, but perhaps the emotional and spiritual weight of the scene. The figures are captured mid-stride, yet they are bound together by the cross. The absence of color reduces the scene to its barest structural elements. Van den Bos uses line to denote form, texture, and shadow. This creates a powerful visual representation of suffering and resilience. The print invites us to reflect on the structural and emotional elements that give form to stories of faith, suffering, and redemption. We might consider how these formal choices shape our engagement with such narratives.