Kalvarienberg c. 1648 - 1652

This is Rembrandt van Rijn’s sketch of the Calvary, a scene dominated by the potent symbol of the crucifixion. This iconic image, central to Christian theology, is imbued with profound meanings of sacrifice, redemption, and divine suffering. The image of a man nailed to a cross extends far beyond its immediate religious context. We see echoes of it in antiquity with the ritualistic sacrifices of gods. Consider, for instance, the Mithraic mysteries, where the slaying of the bull mirrors acts of sacrifice. The gesture of outstretched arms, here fixed in agony, is a recurring motif of supplication and submission across cultures. One cannot help but sense the psychological weight of this collective imagery—the subconscious appeal to primal fears and hopes. The way the onlookers are drawn, some in grief, others in indifference, pulls at our heartstrings, mirroring the human capacity for both empathy and detachment. Just like the ouroboros, this scene contains cycles of death and rebirth, despair and hope that continually resurface, proving the enduring power of symbols.