Kruis met ouroboros 1874 - 1932

Editor: Here we have Mathieu Lauweriks' "Kruis met ouroboros," a woodcut print created sometime between 1874 and 1932. I’m really struck by the contrast between the central, solid cross and the intricate details of the ouroboros surrounding it. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's a fascinating piece to examine through a symbolic lens, particularly considering its historical context. Lauweriks was working in a period of significant social and spiritual upheaval. This print seems to negotiate traditional Christian symbolism with ancient concepts of cyclical time and eternal return, represented by the ouroboros. Editor: So, it's like a visual representation of tradition clashing with new ideas? Curator: Exactly. Think about the rise of theosophy and other esoteric movements during that time. The image subtly challenges and subverts power structures, especially concerning established religious interpretations. What do you think about the stylized figures in the background, their gestures, the rigid symmetry of the design? Editor: They look like they are participating in some kind of spiritual gesture, and the geometry of the frame lends the composition some sort of formality. Curator: I'd agree, it invokes a certain rigidity; an expectation for conformity, and if that were to be questioned in any way what social backlash that would create, particularly because of the gender identity of the character that appears. Now with these aspects in mind, would it be too far to state that it invokes more ideas around rebellion than it initially might suggest? Editor: That’s a fascinating point! Considering the social context and Lauweriks’ use of symbolism, this image seems far more radical and even rebellious. I now read that sense of tension between societal order and its overturning from tradition. Thanks! Curator: Exactly, that’s how the ouroboros informs it, too. There's no real order in life but that cycle is guaranteed. It certainly gives a whole new layer to the meaning.