Christus voorspelt zijn dood en opstanding 1629

Christoffel van Sichem II created this woodcut print depicting Christ telling his disciples about his coming death and resurrection. Sichem was working in the Netherlands amidst the Reformation, a period defined by religious and political upheaval. Prints like this one played a crucial role in disseminating religious ideas, which had profound social consequences. Christ’s gathering with his disciples is set within a geometric interior space. To the left, we see a landscape and building exterior through an open door. Above the group, there is a framed image of Christ resurrected. Van Sichem was a prolific printmaker who made both religious images and portraits of political figures like William of Orange. His prints helped shape public opinion in a time of great change. The disciples appear to be in shock from the premonition, a reminder of the powerful and sometimes devastating role of faith in our lives.