Christ on the Cross 1627

Anthony van Dyck painted this Christ on the Cross in oil on canvas in the 17th century. He renders a naked Christ suspended on a cross set against a dark and foreboding sky. Van Dyck’s crucifixion is a complex image, especially when we consider the religious and political context in which it was made. In the 17th century, the Catholic Church was a powerful institution that played a central role in the lives of people throughout Europe. Images of the crucifixion were common, serving as a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice and the importance of faith. But this was also a time of religious conflict, as the Protestant Reformation challenged the authority of the Catholic Church. Van Dyck's painting should be seen in the context of this religious and political struggle. Historians of art can shed light on the networks of meaning surrounding works like this, using archival resources to understand better the complex relations between artists, institutions, and social change.