Bruiloft te Kana after 1577

This engraving by Cornelis Cort illustrates the wedding at Cana, spotlighting the moment Jesus transforms water into wine. The halo that radiates from Christ and the Virgin Mary signifies divinity, a visual cue adopted to denote holiness. The act of pouring water into large vessels is a symbolic gesture found across cultures; the ancient Greeks used libations to honor their gods, a ritual act of purification and reverence. Similarly, in this scene, the filling of water pots precedes a miracle, elevating the mundane to the divine. Consider the hand gestures. Christ raises his hand in benediction, a posture echoed in countless religious artworks throughout the ages. The Virgin Mary places a hand on her chest, this gesture appears in ancient depictions of grief to expressions of solemn contemplation. Such gestures resonate deeply, engaging viewers on a subconscious level, tapping into collective memories and universal emotions. Symbols possess a life of their own, echoing through time, accumulating layers of meaning, shifting, yet eternally tethered to their origins.