The Deposition, by Daniele da Volterra 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi's etching, "The Deposition," captures Christ's removal from the cross, a scene laden with profound symbols. The ladder, prominently featured, is not merely a tool but a motif echoing Jacob's Ladder—a bridge between heaven and earth. Here, it signifies the transition between the divine and mortal realms. The swooning Virgin Mary, supported by grieving figures, recalls images of mourning from ancient Roman sarcophagi. This gesture of grief is a primal expression, a "pathos formula" that recurs across cultures and epochs, linking the personal sorrow of Mary to collective human experiences of loss. Consider the recurrent motif of the Pietà, where Mary cradles the lifeless Christ, a theme present throughout art history. The emotional weight of this image taps into our deepest fears and sorrows, resonating with a universal sense of mortality. The cyclical nature of these symbols underscores how our subconscious imbues them with timeless significance.