Christ and the Adulteress 

Carl Pickhardt created this powerful scene, "Christ and the Adulteress," in the 20th century. The image is dominated by Christ’s protective gesture towards the woman, shielding her from the accusatory gaze of the crowd. This sheltering motif echoes through art history, appearing in images of the Virgin Mary protecting supplicants under her mantle. But here, the protective gesture carries a potent psychological weight. It becomes a symbol of divine compassion confronting human judgment. We see the same motif in images of the Good Shepherd, carrying the lost lamb. It speaks to our collective memory of needing protection, of seeking refuge from condemnation. The act of shielding, seen across centuries, is never static. It evolves, becoming a vessel for new cultural anxieties and moral questions. It is a cycle, reflecting our ever-changing understanding of empathy, justice, and forgiveness.