Christus aan het kruis 1761 - 1804

This print, Christus aan het kruis, or Christ on the cross, was created by Erven de Weduwe Jacobus van Egmont, and is currently held in the Rijksmuseum. In this print we see Christ's crucifixion framed by a decorative border. Rendered with great detail, this devotional image would have been a common sight in homes, inviting personal reflection on faith and sacrifice. The artist, positioned within a family business run by the widow of Jacobus van Egmont, was part of a commercial and cultural milieu deeply shaped by religious practice. Consider how the emotional weight of the scene is conveyed through the figures surrounding the cross: their sorrow, piety, and the intimate connection they share with Christ. While conforming to traditional religious iconography, this print also develops a narrative of personal and communal faith, reflecting the intense spiritual landscape of its time. The print’s visual vocabulary and accessible format highlights how religious art shapes societal values and individual spiritual journeys, encapsulating both the emotional and communal dimensions of faith.