Hoofdman van Kafarnaüm vraagt Christus om zijn knecht te genezen 1590 - 1622

This engraving by Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert depicts a scene from the Gospel of John, in which a Roman centurion pleads with Christ to heal his ailing servant. Note the bowed postures and beseeching gestures – universal signs of supplication. This motif of seeking divine intervention has roots stretching back to ancient Greece and Rome. In antiquity, figures would approach oracles or temples to seek favor from the gods, often depicted through similar gestures of reverence. Think of the many ancient images of the goddess Hygieia, worshipped for her power to heal. Consider how these gestures have been passed down through history, shifting in meaning but retaining their emotional core. These universal expressions of hope, faith, and desperation connect us to those who came before, revealing the continuity of human emotion across time. The act of seeking healing is a profound, subconscious act of hope against the inevitable.