Spotprent nav het 200-jarige jubileum van de Portugese Synagoge te Amsterdam, 1875 1875

This print by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans was made in 1875 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam. Three crosses on a distant hill immediately seize our attention. The cross is, of course, a potent symbol of Christianity, representing sacrifice, redemption, and faith. But the cross is not unique to Christianity, and has appeared in other cultures. Symbols resembling the cross have been found in pre-Christian contexts. Here, the symbol’s power lies in its enduring presence and evolving significance. The recurring motif is deeply ingrained in our collective consciousness, capable of evoking profound emotions and spiritual reflections. The artist uses this to emphasize the complex interplay between memory, cultural identity, and religious symbolism, inviting us to contemplate the non-linear, cyclical progression of symbols.