Kruisiging van Christus, linkerdeel 1590 - 1632

This engraving, "Crucifixion of Christ," was created by Pieter de Jode I. Here we witness a scene laden with symbolic weight: Christ on the cross, the ultimate symbol of sacrifice. His outstretched arms are a gesture of divine love, echoing through the ages in countless depictions of martyrs and saviors. Consider the Roman soldiers on horseback. Are they merely figures of authority, or do they embody the brutal force of empire, a recurring motif in art history? Their presence reminds me of equestrian statues of emperors, symbols of power and domination, yet here, they participate in an act that subverts their authority. The weeping figures at the foot of the cross evoke the ancient Greek tradition of mourning figures in funerary art. This emotional display, a raw expression of grief, transcends time. It speaks to a collective memory of loss, a primal response that resonates across cultures. Observe the cyclical nature of these motifs. They resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, woven into the fabric of our shared human experience.