Christus geneest een man met een verschrompelde hand 1579 - 1585

This engraving, made by Wierix around the late 16th century, captures a scene of divine intervention, as Christ heals a man's withered hand. The gesture of healing, the outstretched hand, is a potent symbol across cultures, embodying restoration and divine grace. Consider the iconography of hands throughout history – from ancient Egyptian art where hands offer blessings and protection, to the Renaissance depictions of God giving life to Adam. This symbol transcends time, reappearing in various contexts, each imbued with the power to evoke deep emotional responses. The withered hand itself symbolizes decay, loss, and suffering, resonating on a subconscious level with our own fears of mortality and imperfection. The act of healing suggests a cyclical journey from illness to health, mirroring the human experience of overcoming adversity, reflecting our collective memory of shared struggles and triumphs.