Ved Den hellige grav 1933 - 1934

Niels Larsen Stevns sketched "At the Holy Sepulchre" with ink on paper, capturing a scene laden with somber reverence. Dominating the composition are the three crosses, stark symbols of sacrifice, which immediately recall the crucifixion of Christ, a pivotal event in Christian theology. These crosses are more than mere religious iconography; they represent a motif of suffering and redemption found across cultures and epochs. Think of the ancient Egyptian ankh, a symbol of life, or even the simple act of marking graves—all echoing humanity's deep-seated need to confront mortality. Note how Stevns uses the stark lines to evoke a sense of desolation, a feeling that transcends the immediate religious context. It speaks to our collective unconscious, where symbols of loss and hope intertwine, endlessly reappearing in our art and our dreams. It is this eternal cycle that makes the image so poignant.