Christoffel Columbus ontfermt zich over een kind 1831 - 1904

Arnoud Schaepkens created this touching print, Christoffel Columbus ontfermt zich over een kind, featuring Columbus embracing a child. Here, we see Columbus, the famed explorer, not in triumph, but in a moment of tender compassion. The image is filled with the iconography of care and protection: Columbus’s embrace, the child’s vulnerability. It reminds me of the ancient motif of the Good Shepherd, caring for his flock. The protective gesture has roots stretching back to antiquity. Consider images of emperors or deities offering solace to supplicants. Throughout history, this embrace has been a recurring symbol of authority and benevolence, yet, consider how the meaning has evolved. In ancient times, it signified power; here, it evokes empathy. This image, more than a mere historical depiction, touches upon the primal human need for comfort, a need that transcends time and place, engaging us on a subconscious level. The image connects us to a shared human experience.