Bewening 1655 - 1699

Jean Louis Roullet captured this 'Bewening' scene in an engraving, focusing on the raw emotion of loss. Note the crown of thorns discarded on the ground, a potent symbol of Christ's suffering and sacrifice. The sorrowful figures surrounding his body are not just grieving; their gestures reach back through centuries, echoing poses of lamentation found in ancient Greek tragedies. Consider the raised hands, a universal expression of despair. We see this echoed in countless images across cultures, from ancient sculptures to Renaissance paintings. This gesture transcends time, tapping into a collective memory of grief, a primal response to loss embedded in our shared human experience. The women's grief, rendered with such intensity, powerfully engages us. It reminds us that even in religious iconography, deeply human emotions are the conduits through which we connect with the divine. This motif of mourning resurfaces time and again, a testament to its enduring power to express humanity's deepest sorrows.