Hoe dat Jesus Christus is gekruyst geworden 1800 - 1833

This color woodcut depicting the crucifixion was made by Philippus Jacobus Brepols, probably in the Netherlands, sometime between 1800 and 1845. It presents the familiar Christian narrative in a style that reflects its own particular moment in history. We can see this in the combination of the traditional biblical scene with the printing press technology that allows for the mass production of images. The accompanying text frames the artwork. It reinforces the religious doctrine, while the printing of the image allows for wider dissemination of the story to a broader public. Considered in its institutional context, this print reveals how religious narratives were being adapted and repackaged for a rapidly changing society. Historians would want to look more closely at Brepols’s publishing house. Its output, the audience it was trying to reach, and the other kinds of publications it produced. These factors would all help to contextualize the image and understand its role in shaping popular culture.