Opstanding van Christus 1619 - 1624

This is Claude Mellan’s ‘Resurrection of Christ,’ an engraving made in the 17th century. Dominating the scene is the figure of Christ, radiant with divine light, holding a staff and stepping out of the sepulcher. Note the Roman soldiers scattered around him who recoil in fear. Christ's resurrection is often symbolized by light overcoming darkness, a motif that appears throughout art history from antiquity onwards. In early Christian art, the rising sun was a metaphor for Christ's triumph over death, echoing pre-Christian solar deities. The motif of the triumphant hero holding a standard or staff can be traced back to classical depictions of victorious emperors and gods, symbolizing power and dominion. Consider how the emotional impact of such images taps into our collective psyche. The resurrection speaks to the eternal human longing for overcoming mortality. It echoes through different cultures and religions, manifesting in diverse yet connected symbols. Just as in ancient mystery cults, the motif of rebirth and renewal recurs, reflecting our inherent psychological need to believe in cycles of death and resurrection.