Christus als overwinnaar van de dood en de zonde 1577

This engraving of ‘Christ as victor over death and sin’ was made by Johann Sadeler I, around 1577. Sadeler was part of a well-known family of printmakers active in the Southern Netherlands and Germany, during a time of religious conflict and reformation. The work layers classical and religious imagery, typical of the period. The idealized and allegorical figures are arranged to emphasize Christ's triumph. He sits enthroned, holding a cross, while Adam and Eve kneel at his feet, their nakedness symbolizing vulnerability and humanity's fallen state. The inscription, 'Absorpta est mors in victoria' – death is swallowed up in victory – speaks to the Christian promise of salvation. Yet, the emotional weight of the image comes from the recognition of human frailty, sin, and the hope for redemption. Sadeler’s engraving serves as a potent reminder of the complex interplay between faith, power, and the human condition.