Rivierlandschap met Christus en de bloedvloeiende vrouw 1582 - 1613

Pieter van der Borcht's engraving captures a biblical scene within a detailed river landscape. Dominating the foreground is a large crowd surrounding Christ, while in the lower left a woman kneels, symbolizing her healing from a long-term disease, stemming from touching his garment. The act of touching is a powerful symbol here. We find it echoed in various forms across cultures—from grasping at relics to the laying on of hands. These are all acts intended to transfer power, to heal, or to connect with the divine. Consider how such gestures tap into our subconscious desire for direct connection with the sacred. This desire echoes through time, linking ancient rituals with modern expressions of faith. Note how the image is constructed, the psychological weight of illness is juxtaposed with an idealised image of a healthy life, triggering in the viewer a primal need to be healed. The continuous use of this image through history illustrates how the psychological impact transcends the artwork’s temporal context, echoing through different eras and cultures.