The Holy Family 1850 - 1900

This is The Holy Family, rendered by Josef Kohlschein through engraving. The scene brims with symbols; note the lamb, nuzzling against the Christ Child. In Christian iconography, the lamb is a potent symbol of innocence and sacrifice, prefiguring Christ's own fate. This motif is not isolated to Christianity, of course. Echoes of sacrificial animals resonate through pagan rites of expiation and renewal. Consider the cross, carried by Joseph, a carpenter by trade. This carpentry tool is a stark contrast to the instrument of Christ’s crucifixion, thus becoming a symbol of salvation. The archetype of the protective father, found across cultures, is embodied in Joseph's stern gaze, as he watches over his family. His presence is an invocation of familial duty. These symbols, steeped in cultural memory, tap into our collective consciousness, prompting a profound and cyclical re-evaluation of faith, protection, and sacrifice.