Christ en croix 1889 - 1892

Jean-Jacques Henner captured this depiction of Christ on the cross with oil. Note how the cross, the ultimate symbol of sacrifice, is the focal point. This symbol has a lineage far beyond Christian iconography. Before its association with Christ, the cross was a pagan symbol, linked to cosmological ideas. It represented the four corners of the world, the meeting place between the divine and earthly realms. Consider the vulnerability conveyed through the figure’s pose, the exposed body a mirror reflecting human suffering. This echoes the pathos found in ancient sculptures of dying heroes. The figure's open arms evoke a sense of universal invitation, and yet the surrounding darkness induces introspection and solitude. The motifs intertwine, echoing across time, revealing layers of our shared cultural memory.