Christus aan het kruis 1580 - 1620

This print of Christ on the cross, by an anonymous artist, presents a well-known image and set of ideas within its specific cultural context. The scene of the crucifixion makes use of particular visual codes, such as the haloed figures of Mary and Mary Magdalene, to lend the image meaning within a religious framework. The inclusion of a cityscape in the background and bones in the foreground locate this work within a certain time and place, likely the Netherlands, and point to the social conditions of its production. Anonymous religious imagery often reflects the conservatism of the institutions which commissioned it, such as the Catholic Church, but the choice to depict these scenes in print, intended for mass distribution, indicates the growing influence of more progressive social forces, such as the merchant class and the printing industry. To fully understand this piece, historians might consult church records or examine the printmaking industry of the time. In doing so, we can begin to see how art is shaped by the social and institutional forces of its time.