Triomferende Christus 1560 - 1600

Johann Sadeler I created this engraving, Triomferende Christus, in the late 16th century, a period defined by religious conflict and reformation across Europe. Sadeler’s triumphant Christ stands over a skull and serpent, symbols of death and temptation, while holding a banner of victory, surrounded by adoring angels. The image blends religious conviction with prevailing societal norms. Christ's masculine and idealized form mirrors the period's valorization of the male body, indicative of the era's gendered power dynamics. The engraving would have served to reinforce the power of the church. However, this image also offers an opportunity to consider individual spiritual experiences. In a time of upheaval, it offers a message of hope, portraying salvation and triumph over earthly struggles, a sentiment that remains potent and relevant today.