Kruisafneming 1675 - 1727

Claude Duflos created this print, titled "Kruisafneming," sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Religious art of this period often served to reinforce social hierarchies, dictating roles and behaviors, particularly for women. Here, we see the body of Christ being taken down from the cross, surrounded by mourners. The women in the scene are particularly expressive in their grief, kneeling and weeping. Their emotional display highlights a gendered expectation of female piety and mourning. Yet, their presence is also powerful; they are witnesses to a pivotal moment, their grief a testament to Christ's humanity. Duflos masterfully uses the print medium to convey not just a religious narrative but also the complex interplay of gendered emotions and social roles within it. This piece invites us to consider the varied ways in which individuals, particularly women, engaged with and experienced religious narratives.