Saint Bernard of Clairvaux with the Instruments of the Passion c. 1625

Pieter de Jode the Elder rendered this drawing of Saint Bernard with ink on paper, in the late 16th or early 17th century. Observe how the saint is surrounded by the instruments of Christ's Passion. He clasps the cross, the keys, the scourge, and the lance. Each of these objects is not merely an element of the Passion; they become powerful symbols imbued with spiritual energy. Consider the keys, emblems of Saint Peter and, by extension, of papal authority. They are ancient symbols that long predate Christianity and are associated with the power to open and shut, to bind and loose. They are, in essence, symbols of control over access and knowledge, reappearing throughout history in various guises, from the keys of Janus to the key that opens Bluebeard's forbidden chamber. The collective memory of such suffering shapes our subconscious understanding of the image, engaging viewers on a profound, almost visceral level. The emotional weight of the image lies in its capacity to evoke the very real pain and anguish associated with these symbols. Such symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, weaving through our cultural consciousness.