Jesus before Pilate 1644 - 1652

Wenceslaus Hollar’s print captures Jesus before Pilate, teeming with symbols potent in the 17th century. Here, religious objects are presented as treasures, symbols of earthly power and spiritual authority. Note the monstrance and papal bulls, symbols of the Catholic Church's sacred rituals. The bells, often used in religious ceremonies, echo throughout history, summoning faithful to prayer in various guises across cultures. We see the cross as a powerful emblem, its presence reaching back to ancient sun worship symbols. The motifs evoke a sense of collective memory, of symbols re-emerging and morphing across eras, each imbued with new layers of meaning. It underscores the interplay between conscious belief and the unconscious resonance of inherited symbols. The symbols displayed here, and the emotional charge they contain, continue to engage the viewer, resonating with deep-seated psychological and cultural memories. The image embodies the cyclical journey of symbols through time.