Crucifixion, etc. (John Beaver, Roman Military Punishments, 1725) 1725 - 1779

William Hogarth etched this print around 1725, a stark panorama of Roman military punishments. Dominating the scene, the figure on the cross speaks of agony, echoing countless artistic depictions of crucifixion, a symbol of sacrifice and suffering deeply embedded in our collective consciousness. Note how the artist presents a series of cruelties that remind us of the cyclical nature of violence. See how, in a seemingly unrelated vignette, men are thrown off a cliff, and another is mauled by lions, revealing a disturbing motif: humanity’s capacity for barbarism. This motif of sacrifice and divine punishment appears in the classical myths, where heroes face trials imposed by gods. But here, the Roman military inflicts suffering. Hogarth presents us with a vision of cruelty that transcends time. It serves as a reminder of the dark currents that run through human history, resurfacing in different guises across centuries.