Christus aan het kruis met Maria en Johannes 1648 - 1657

This is a woodcut made by Christoffel van Sichem II, depicting Christ on the cross accompanied by Mary and John. Note the radiant halo that encircles Christ’s head. The halo, historically a symbol of divine light and power, appears across cultures, from ancient sun deities to Christian saints. The image echoes earlier depictions, yet carries the weight of repeated tellings. See how the figures of Mary and John are placed on either side of Christ. It is a formal arrangement that lends balance, but also mirrors the emotional symmetry of grief and mourning, seen in countless other works. Consider the cross itself, an emblem of suffering and salvation, its form stretching back to pre-Christian symbols of cosmic order. We observe how symbols persist, evolving, yet deeply rooted in our collective memory, stirring subconscious echoes through ages.