The Crucifixion 

Antoine Jacquard created this engraving of The Crucifixion in France sometime between 1620 and 1650. In this period, printmaking was becoming an important and affordable way of disseminating religious ideas to a wider audience. The format of the image, an oval shape, and the use of intricate detail, suggests that it may have been used as a devotional object. The scene depicts the moment of Christ's crucifixion, a moment that speaks to the redemptive power of sacrifice. The composition is a mix of chaos and order, with figures clustered at the foot of the cross and others on horseback, gazing at the spectacle. The visual codes of the time would have immediately signaled the religious significance of the image. The image is a window into the religious and cultural life of 17th-century France, a time of both religious fervor and social upheaval. To understand it further, we might consult historical texts and religious commentaries of the period.