Crucifixion by a table, illustration from Speculum Passionis, 1507 1507

Hans Baldung created this woodcut, ‘Crucifixion by a Table’ in 1507, as an illustration for Speculum Passionis. The stark image presents Christ crucified, while below, figures gather around a table, a juxtaposition laden with symbolism. The crucifixion, a potent symbol of sacrifice and redemption, looms large. But consider the table. It hints at the Last Supper, a moment of fellowship before betrayal. Yet, it also echoes the merchants in the temple, a symbol of earthly concerns overshadowing the divine. This contrast evokes a tension between sacred and profane. Such motifs recur across time and cultures. Think of the scales of justice mirroring those of divine judgment, or the serpent representing both healing and temptation. These visual cues resonate deeply, tapping into our collective memory and subconscious understanding. Baldung's work, in its raw emotion and symbolic weight, is a testament to the enduring power of images to stir the soul and connect us to the past. Such non-linear cycles of symbols resurface and evolve and find new relevance in the progression of time.