Christus en Nicodemus 1758 - 1792

John Greenwood created this image, Christus en Nicodemus, using mezzotint. Here we see Christ conversing with Nicodemus, a Pharisee, under the cover of night. The setting itself, shrouded in darkness, is a powerful symbol, indicating secrecy and perhaps the hidden depths of spiritual inquiry. Note how Nicodemus is depicted wearing a turban, a motif that signifies his status and wisdom within Jewish society. It also marks him, in Christian art, as 'the other', highlighting both respect and difference. I am reminded of similar headdresses in Persian miniatures, and how they denote authority and knowledge across cultures. The turban's evolution is fascinating; it shifts from a marker of status to a symbol of cultural identity, fraught with the complexities of cross-cultural interaction. These symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts. The act of veiling, of covering the head, speaks to a universal impulse: to protect, to conceal, and to reveal in calculated measure.