Christus predikt over scheiden 1485 - 1491

This woodcut titled "Christus predikt over scheiden," likely created in Antwerp, presents Christ preaching about divorce. The central drama unfolds through gestures—the couple’s joined hands versus Christ’s open-palmed stance. The act of joining hands carries a history across time, from ancient Roman betrothal ceremonies, symbolizing agreement and union, to medieval rituals solidifying oaths and contracts. Here, it represents marriage. Note Christ's raised hands, mirroring the couple's, yet distinct in purpose. This gesture, found in numerous religious artworks, signifies not union, but divine pronouncement, almost a rejection of the couple's bond. The emotional weight of this scene is palpable, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. The joined hands, a symbol of love and commitment, confront the divine decree, creating tension. Consider how symbols, like the joining of hands, persist through time, evolving with each retelling, each artwork. From ancient rituals to this woodcut and beyond, they resurface, transformed, yet retaining echoes of their origins.