Christus aan het kruis 1589

Johann Sadeler I created this engraving of 'Christ on the Cross,' sometime in the late 16th century. Its harrowing depiction of the crucifixion as a public execution, and the poses of mourning of those closest to Christ, create an emotional scene. Sadeler was working in the Low Countries at a time of religious conflict, and his print makes reference to the Catholic tradition in an environment in which it was under threat from Protestant reformers. The composition makes use of classical artistic principles to ennoble and idealize its religious subject matter, in accordance with Counter-Reformation artistic doctrine. Art historians consult a range of sources to understand works like this: from the history of religion to the history of printmaking, which was then a relatively new medium. To interpret such artworks is to learn about a turbulent period in European history.