The Frankfurt Altarpiece of the Exaltation of the True Cross_The Digging for the Cross (bottom middle left) c. 1603 - 1605

Adam Elsheimer painted this small oil on copper panel, "The Digging for the Cross," as part of a larger altarpiece in the early 17th century. It reflects a time of religious and political conflict in Europe. Here, Elsheimer depicts the legendary search for the True Cross, an event steeped in religious and political meaning. Notice the laborers, their bodies rendered with a tactile realism, set against the more formally dressed clergy. This contrast invites us to consider the social hierarchies of the time. The physical labor of the working class literally unearths the sacred relic, while those in positions of religious power look on. Consider the emotional weight carried by this image. The act of unearthing the cross is not merely a discovery; it's a re-emergence of faith and a physical manifestation of the intersection between the earthly and the divine. Elsheimer asks us to reflect on how tangible objects can shape our spiritual and communal identities.