Christus redt de mens voor de zonde 1552 - 1554

Cornelis Bos created this engraving, Christus redt de mens voor de zonde, likely in the 1550s, amidst the religious and social upheaval of the Reformation. Bos, working in the Netherlands, was part of a generation grappling with shifting religious identities. This print stages a dynamic struggle between sin and redemption. We see a muscular Christ, cross in hand, confronting another muscular figure that represents man. In the lower left a nude Eve stands on a globe filled with earthly objects that tempt her. Christ is attempting to cut the chord of sin connecting man to this globe. In this moment, Bos captures the tension between earthly desires and spiritual salvation, reflecting the intense personal and theological debates of his time. The figures are idealized, yet their struggle feels deeply human, echoing the internal conflicts many faced as they navigated the changing religious landscape. Bos invites us to consider the individual's role in their own salvation, a theme that resonates powerfully in an era defined by questions of faith and free will.