Kruisdraging c. 1778 - 1838

Anthonie van den Bos created this small drawing, "Kruisdraging," sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century using pen and ink. It depicts Jesus carrying the cross, surrounded by figures who are either helping or urging him along. Van den Bos, who lived through a time of great political upheaval in the Netherlands, would have been acutely aware of the power of images to convey both religious and political messages. The Netherlands in this period were dominated by the Dutch Reformed Church, with other religions often marginalized. Visual codes of religious piety would have been recognizable to the artist and his contemporaries. To understand this artwork more fully, one could research the religious and social context of the Netherlands during Van den Bos's lifetime. By delving into such historical resources, we can better grasp the cultural significance that shaped the art of the time.