Kruisiging van Christus, rechterdeel 1590 - 1632

This engraving of the Crucifixion of Christ was created by Pieter de Jode I around the turn of the 17th century in the Netherlands. It's a scene immediately recognizable from the gospels, but the ways it is represented here speak to the religious and political struggles of the time. De Jode was working in a culture deeply divided by the Reformation. Northern Europe had largely broken away from the Catholic Church, and these divisions often turned violent. Engravings like this played a key role in that conflict, circulating visual messages that reinforced particular interpretations of the Bible and of Christian history. The text included in the engraving signals this politicized context. The phrases in French emphasize Christ's obedience unto death, and reflect on the love and charity of God. As historians, we can look to the archives of religious printing and the records of religious debates to understand how images like this functioned in a society undergoing profound transformation.