Christuskind met rijksappel 1628 - 1670

Pieter de Jode the Younger created this engraving, now held in the Rijksmuseum, depicting the Christ Child. He stands beside a globe, holding up two fingers in a gesture that signifies blessing. This seemingly simple image is a complex tapestry of symbols. Consider the orb, a representation of earthly dominion, commonly known as Globus cruciger since the Middle Ages, yet appropriated from Roman emperors, who themselves borrowed the symbol of world power from the Hellenistic world. Here, it signifies Christ's sovereignty over the world. Beneath his feet, a serpent is coiled—an ancient symbol of chaos and temptation defeated by the divine child. The gesture of blessing mirrors that of Roman emperors bestowing power, reappearing throughout Christian art, linking Christ to the concept of divine authority. These motifs reappear and evolve. They remind us of the psychological power that symbols hold, engaging viewers on a subconscious level with a visual language that transcends time, and linking us to a chain of collective memory.