De zieke Lazarus 1629

This woodcut of the sick Lazarus, was created by Christoffel van Sichem II. Here, we see Lazarus confined to his bed, surrounded by figures attending to him. Note the women in the foreground carrying bowls, gestures of care that echo ancient depictions of offering and sacrifice. This act of carrying and offering is not unique to Christian art; we find similar motifs in classical depictions of deities receiving tribute, a visual language absorbed and transformed. The bed-ridden figure reminds us of the power of the pathos formula, reflecting not just physical ailment, but also the universal human experience of suffering. Think back to images of dying heroes in classical sculpture; the shared thread is the expression of intense emotion. The image serves as a reminder of how symbols evolve, carrying echoes of past meanings while adapting to new cultural and religious contexts. The scene taps into a collective memory of suffering and compassion.