The Transfiguration c. 1475

This striking woodcut, "The Transfiguration," presents a pivotal scene from the New Testament. We see Christ radiant in light, flanked by Moses with the tablets of the Law and Elijah. Below, the apostles Peter, James, and John are overwhelmed by the divine spectacle. The motif of the divine light radiating from Christ is particularly compelling. We can trace this back to the halos of Roman emperors, signifying power and divinity. In early Christian art, this symbol was appropriated and transformed, re-emerging as an emblem of spiritual illumination. The apostles' gestures of awe connect with potent, subconscious responses to the unknown. Their covering of eyes, a gesture of fear and respect, taps into a deep-seated psychological reaction to overwhelming encounters with the divine. The emotional intensity communicated by the apostles' gestures serves as a powerful force, engaging viewers on a profound, subconscious level. This symbol, like many others, undergoes a cyclical progression, constantly resurfacing, evolving, and acquiring new meanings as it traverses through history.