Agony in the Garden 1600 - 1633

Caspar Strauss rendered "Agony in the Garden" with pen and brown ink, accented by gray wash, a testament to the artist's hand. Here, Christ is kneeling, hands clasped in prayer, while an angel offers him a chalice, a potent symbol of the suffering to come. The motif of the chalice, imbued with the symbolism of sacrifice, stretches far back through cultural memory. We find echoes in ancient rituals, where libations were offered to deities, a mirror of the deep-seated human need to appease higher powers through sacrifice. The sleeping disciples at the bottom add a layer of emotional depth to the composition, highlighting Christ's isolation in his moment of crisis. This scene has been passed down through history, shifting in meaning, and yet the chalice has resurfaced and evolved, taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.