Gaining Converts 

Gustave Dore’s engraving presents us with the visual symbols of the crusades, such as the cross, the robes of preachers and the armor of soldiers. At the center of the image, the cross stands tall, the most dominant of all symbols. It represents salvation and divine authority, but also the power and control wielded by the church. The cross is not just a religious symbol but a complex signifier of faith and conquest. We see a similar display of the cross in earlier Roman battle scenes or imperial processions. Here, the crusaders carry it as a standard, an emblem of their sacred mission. Like the Roman Eagle, the cross legitimizes and sanctifies military action, reflecting humanity’s deep, often subconscious, need to justify conflict with higher moral purposes. This psychological aspect of imposing order and belief onto chaos is a recurring theme in human history. The image's dramatic composition, where light and shadow emphasize the emotional intensity of the moment, further underscores the psychological weight of conversion. It invites viewers to reflect on the cyclical nature of religious and cultural symbols, how they resurface, evolve, and are imbued with new meaning across time.