Christus aan het kruis 1806

Charles Howard Hodges created this mezzotint, "Christus aan het kruis," during a time of significant social upheaval, straddling the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Hodges lived through the Age of Revolutions. These revolutions challenged traditional hierarchies, impacting religious representations. In this intensely wrought scene, we see Christ on the cross, surrounded by figures of grief, soldiers, and heavenly cherubs. It’s a tableau steeped in religious and historical connotations. Hodges grapples with the representation of power, innocence, and suffering. The artist uses light and shadow to direct our gaze. It highlights the emotional drama of the crucifixion, which serves as a critique of established authority. The artist encourages viewers to reconsider the narratives of sacrifice and redemption embedded in the crucifixion story. He compels us to confront the complexities of faith, justice, and human suffering.