Transfiguration of Jesus 1872

Carl Bloch painted the Transfiguration of Jesus, and in it, we see a powerful display of divine revelation. Christ appears bathed in light, flanked by Moses and Elijah, while below, the apostles shield their eyes, overwhelmed. Light, here, is not just illumination but a symbol of spiritual awakening. Think of the ancient sun gods, Ra of Egypt or Apollo of Greece, radiating power and knowledge. This motif transcends cultures, reappearing throughout history as an emblem of enlightenment, a spark of divine insight. The gesture of covering one's eyes—seen also in depictions of blinding epiphanies—speaks to our human vulnerability before the sublime. Such imagery taps into our collective subconscious, evoking both awe and terror, as the divine breaks through the mundane. The Transfiguration isn't just a biblical event but a recurring symbol of human encounters with the transcendent, each one a testament to the enduring power of light.