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A small coloured wood-cut, created in the Netherlands around 1500, offers a particularly gruesome rendering of Christ's crucifixion. Christ is pictured with blood pouring from his torso, his head, his legs and his outstretched arms. These are not realistically arranged droplets; instead we see a flurry of vertical red strokes, tightly packed together and evenly spaced. Neil MacGregor reflects on the purpose of this image. He also considers a serene figure of the Buddha, a halo behind his head, already in his enlightened state. (Photo: Figurine of the Buddha with a halo in his enlightened state. Credit: The Trustees of the British Museum)
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