The Virgin of Sorrows: Christ Bearing the Cross; one of nine surrounding compartments from the Virgin of Sorrows, now separated 1520 - 1582

Giorgio Ghisi rendered this image of Christ bearing the cross, part of a larger piece, using engraving techniques. The cross is the dominant symbol, representing sacrifice, redemption, and the weight of human suffering. The motif of the cross echoes across millennia; the Ankh in ancient Egypt, held by deities granting life, bears a striking resemblance. Consider, too, the swastika, ancient in its origins, symbolizing well-being before its appropriation. Each bears witness to our species' pattern-making, a shared, subconscious pursuit of meaning. The image taps into the collective memory of suffering and salvation, an emotional drama played out through the ages. This symbol is never static, always moving, shifting meaning, adapting to different cultural landscapes, and yet, it is also eternal.