Kruisbeeld en passieinstrumenten Possibly 1700 - 1865

This print of a crucifix surrounded by the instruments of the Passion was made by van der Haeghen, though the date of its production is unknown. Within the image, Christ is shown on the cross accompanied by Mary and an unidentifiable saint. Religious images like this one were once ubiquitous across Europe and were used to cultivate specific kinds of belief. The image presents the viewer with a number of visual cues. The ladder, the pillar, and the dice all tell parts of the wider story of Christ’s suffering. But the image is also an assertion of institutional power, reminding viewers of the central role of the Church in mediating the relationship between God and humanity. Understanding the social context for images such as these requires some historical detective work: looking at who made them, who paid for them, and who their intended audience was, which helps us understand better their social function.