Christus op de Olijfberg 1583

Abraham de Bruyn created this engraving titled 'Christus op de Olijfberg' during the late 16th century, a period of intense religious and political upheaval in Europe. Bruyn, who lived through the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, situates this depiction of Christ's anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane within that context. In this piece, the artist develops a scene steeped in the emotional and psychological drama of faith. The setting, with its stylized landscape, reflects a world grappling with spiritual uncertainty. De Bruyn seems to use the traditional biblical narrative as a framework to explore contemporary anxieties around belief, doubt, and divine abandonment. The figures appear caught between devotion and trepidation. By focusing on Christ's moment of vulnerability, 'Christus op de Olijfberg' reflects the personal struggles inherent in religious conviction during a fractious era. It remains a powerful meditation on faith, doubt, and the human condition.