Christus tussen zijn leerlingen 1629

Christoffel van Sichem created this woodcut, "Christ among his disciples," in the early 17th century. Central to this image is the figure of Christ, radiating light, surrounded by his followers. Consider the halo, a symbol of divine illumination, not unique to Christian art. We see it echoed in earlier depictions of Roman emperors, or even further back, in sun gods of ancient Egypt. The gesture of teaching, with Christ's raised hand, resonates too. Think of similar poses in images of Buddha, or Greek philosophers imparting wisdom. These visual motifs are not static. Their repeated use across cultures and eras reveals a deep, human desire for knowledge and spiritual connection. They tap into a collective memory, a subconscious recognition of shared experiences and aspirations, continually reshaped by each new context. This cyclical progression demonstrates how symbols evolve, carrying echoes of the past into the present.