Christ c. 1595

Curator: This engraving, simply titled "Christ," was created by Zacharias Dolendo, a Dutch artist active around the turn of the 17th century. Editor: I’m immediately struck by the labor involved. Look at that meticulous hatching, the sheer density of lines creating shadow and form. It feels very… tactile, despite being an image. Curator: Absolutely. The process informs the meaning. Consider the orb in Christ’s hand, topped with a cross: a clear symbol of earthly power made manifest. Dolendo is reminding us of the material world’s subjugation. Editor: And yet, above Christ’s head, the inscription “Via Veritas Vita” – The Way, The Truth, The Life – radiates like a halo, suggesting a transcendence beyond the physical. It’s a fascinating duality. Curator: The choice of printmaking itself is interesting. It allows for the widespread dissemination of this imagery, influencing how people perceived religious figures through a reproducible, accessible medium. Editor: I agree. It's a compelling interplay between spiritual aspiration and the hands that shape our beliefs.