Tafereelen uit het leven van Jezus, gedurende het derde jaar van zijn leeraarsambt 1850 - 1881

This illustrated print by Dirk Noothoven van Goor depicts scenes from the life of Jesus during his third year of ministry, rendered with the visual language of its time. Notice the recurring motif of raised hands. In the scene of Jesus blessing the children, this gesture signifies benediction and divine favor. This motif echoes in the resurrection of Lazarus, where Jesus's raised hand commands life, a gesture laden with power. The raised hand, a symbol transcending cultures, appears in ancient Roman art, signifying authority. Yet, its meaning shifts; here, it's not of earthly power but divine intervention. Observe the emotional impact: the pleading woman at Jesus's feet, the grieving figures around Lazarus. These evoke empathy, tapping into our collective memory of suffering and hope, compelling us to partake in their emotional landscape, a profound connection that defies time. The imagery cycles back: from ancient Rome to biblical scenes and countless iterations in between, illustrating a non-linear progression of cultural memory. These symbols resurface, transformed by history, yet retaining their primal emotive force.