Bewening van Christus 1604

This is Roeland van Bolten's engraving, "Bewening van Christus". The scene overwhelms the eye with complex linear patterns that guide us through the somber deposition of Christ. Note the artist's focus on the cross, stark and towering, that dictates the composition. It overshadows the figures with its brutal geometry. Observe how Van Bolten uses the dense hatching to create volume and depth, yet the figures remain flattened against the background. The lines, almost frenetic, especially in the sky, contribute to a feeling of agitation and grief. The cross, an instrument of death, is made linguistically explicit by the inscription 'INRI' at the top. The mourners are arranged in dynamic poses, yet contained by the rigid structure. This tension between emotional expression and formal constraint encapsulates the theological paradox of suffering and redemption. Through its formal elements, this work invites us to consider how such images shape and reflect religious belief and artistic interpretation.