Heilige Christoffel met het Christuskind op Belle-Île-en-Mer 1927

Lodewijk Schelfhout etched this image of Saint Christopher carrying the Christ Child on Belle-Île-en-Mer. The figure of Saint Christopher looms out of the water, his staff firmly planted on the unseen riverbed as the Christ Child sits securely on his shoulders. Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers, whose name means "Christ-bearer," is often depicted crossing a river with the child Jesus. Here we find him, embodying strength and faith, a symbol deeply rooted in Christian iconography. The depiction echoes earlier depictions, such as those found in medieval frescoes and illuminated manuscripts, each iteration imbuing him with new meaning. Observe how the burden he carries—Christ himself—is both a physical weight and a spiritual awakening, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. This powerful image, born from cultural memory, continues to resonate, resurfacing in various forms throughout history.