Christus op de weg naar de Calvarieberg 1535 - 1540

Pieter Coecke van Aelst rendered "Christus op de weg naar de Calvarieberg," or Christ on the way to Calvary, using pen and brown ink. Drawn in the sixteenth century, this work emerges from a society deeply entrenched in religious doctrine. Here, Christ is not merely a religious icon; he is a figure laden with the burdens of systemic injustice, not unlike the marginalized figures throughout history. As Christ trudges towards his crucifixion, flanked by those conscripted to carry the instruments of his torture, we witness the physical embodiment of oppression. The power dynamics at play during the Renaissance were often steeped in patriarchy and religious fervor, leading to persecution and exclusion. Van Aelst does not shy away from portraying the raw emotions of this event. He invites us to reflect on the weight of injustice, asking us to consider who bears the cross in our own time.