“The Three Crosses,” a significant religious painting by the Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens, was created circa 1620. This artwork, exemplary of the Baroque movement’s dramatic style and vivid expression, is executed in oil on panel. The painting can be found within the esteemed collection of the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam, Netherlands. It embodies the expressive intensity and dynamic compositions that are characteristic of Rubens’ oeuvre and the broader Baroque period.
The artwork powerfully depicts the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, flanked by the two thieves who were crucified alongside him, an event deeply rooted in Christian iconography. Rubens’ mastery in rendering the human form is evident in the anatomical precision and emotional intensity of the figures. The central figure of Christ is portrayed with a peaceful yet pained expression, a stark contrast to the twisted agony displayed by the thieves. Rubens’ use of chiaroscuro—the interplay of light and shadow—heightens the dramatic effect, focusing the viewer’s attention on the crucified figures against a dark and foreboding sky. His dynamic brushwork adds a sense of movement and raw emotional power to the scene, encapsulating the gravity and pathos of the crucifixion narrative.
