The Baptism of Christ c. 1535

Jan van Scorel created "The Baptism of Christ," an oil painting, in the sixteenth century. At its core, baptism symbolizes purification, rebirth, and initiation, not just in Christianity but also echoing ancient rituals of cleansing. Observe the descending dove, a classical symbol of Venus, now repurposed as the Holy Spirit. The divine presence above mirrors ancient depictions of Zeus, bringing pagan and Christian worlds into a single frame. Note the emotional intensity in the faces of the witnesses, their upward gaze a gesture that transcends time, reminiscent of figures in ancient Greek art reaching for divine knowledge. This act of looking upward speaks to a deep, subconscious desire to connect with the divine, a desire that has been expressed through art across millennia. The motif of purification through water is not unique to Christianity. In ancient Greek religion, water was used for purification rituals, and this symbol appears in various other cultures as well, reflecting a universal human desire for spiritual cleansing. The cyclical progression of this symbol is a powerful reminder of how human experiences and beliefs are continuously reinterpreted through art.