Opstanding 1807

Charles Howard Hodges created this mezzotint, titled "Opstanding" at an unknown date, now held in the Rijksmuseum. Here, we see Christ emerging from his tomb, holding a staff, while Roman soldiers writhe in confusion and terror. The radiant light emanating from Christ is a visual declaration of divinity, an iconographic language used since antiquity to signify divine presence. Consider, too, the staff he carries: an emblem of authority and resurrection, echoing the scepters of emperors and the rods of biblical prophets. This symbol transcends epochs, appearing in varied forms from ancient Egyptian art to medieval Christian iconography. The motif of the fallen soldier is particularly striking, reflecting the psychological turmoil faced when confronted with the divine. This motif echoes through time, appearing in depictions of the Conversion of Paul or even the fall of pagan idols, revealing a recurring fascination with the moment of revelation and its disorienting effect. The resurrection is not just an event, but a recurring symbol, a constant return in our collective visual memory, resonating with psychological depths and cultural transformations.