Bewening van Christus onder het kruis 1593

This is an anonymous print called "Bewening van Christus onder het kruis" or "Lamentation of Christ beneath the Cross" made at an unknown date. In it, we see a cluster of figures surrounding the dead Christ, who has been removed from the cross. Prints like this one had a crucial public role in early modern Europe. Before mass media, images offered a powerful way to disseminate ideas, beliefs, and even political viewpoints. This print would have served as a devotional tool for people to contemplate the suffering of Christ. But the image also speaks to a society grappling with religious and political upheaval, especially in the Netherlands. As historians, we can look deeper into the image's visual codes, like the figures' dramatic gestures and expressions, and its historical context. By studying the social and institutional history of printmaking, we can better understand the public role of art and the politics of imagery in the past. We can consider the complex interplay of artistic expression, religious belief, and social change.