Calvary n.d.

Rombout van Troyen created this drawing, Calvary, to depict the crucifixion of Christ. See how the cross, though central, is not yet upright. Instead, it's being hauled and pushed, a symbol of burdened humanity. The figures strain, their muscular bodies reminiscent of classical sculptures, yet their task is imbued with Christian symbolism. Consider the serpent-entwined staff—an ancient symbol, it appears in varied contexts, from Hermes's caduceus to the Rod of Asclepius, representing healing and knowledge. Here, it gains a twisted irony. The serpent, traditionally a symbol of wisdom and medicine, is now juxtaposed with the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, highlighting a moment of profound change and suffering. The image conveys a primal emotional force, a collective memory of pain. The act of bearing a heavy load—a cross, in this instance—reverberates through history. The figure, bent and strained, recurs in various forms: Atlas bearing the world, or laborers in ancient Egyptian friezes. The symbol is cyclical, resurfacing and evolving, reminding us of the continuous threads of human experience woven through time.