Hemelvaart van Christus 1646

This is Pierre Daret’s engraving, “The Ascension of Christ.” Daret created this piece in the mid-17th century, a time when religious imagery was used to reinforce social hierarchies. Daret's work reflects the cultural norms of his time. He presents a hierarchical vision of the divine. Christ ascends, radiant and muscular, while his apostles gaze upward, rendered in expressions of awe. The male gaze is central here; power dynamics play out through posture and expression. Notice how the figures at the bottom are kneeling in subservience. The engraving captures a moment laden with emotional and spiritual intensity, but also reinforces existing power structures. It invites us to consider how religious art shapes and reflects societal values. It leaves us to question whose stories are being elevated and whose are being marginalized.