Kruisafneming / Bewening 1716 - 1791

This engraving, made by Pieter Tanjé around the mid-18th century, portrays two scenes of Christ's Passion. In the upper panel, the Descent from the Cross, and below, the Lamentation. Notice the recurring motif: the ladder. A humble object, yet here it becomes an instrument of fate, a bridge between the divine and mortal realms. We see echoes of this ladder in earlier art, such as Jacob's Ladder, symbolizing spiritual ascent. Yet here, it signifies descent, sacrifice. Consider the emotional weight. The limp body of Christ, the grief-stricken mourners. These images tap into our collective memory, evoking a deep, subconscious response. This visual language transcends time, resurfacing in countless forms, each reflecting the anxieties and aspirations of its age. The cyclical recurrence of the symbol underscores the non-linear progression of cultural memory.