Depictions of crucifixions can be found all throughout history, dating back as early as the third century. Though each one may be showing a similar scene, it is within the details of these images that their meanings can be divulged. Over so many centuries, the symbols within these images have changed.
Quite possibly one of the earliest depictions of Jesus and his crucifixion, a piece known as Alexamenos Graffito shows Christ with the head of a donkey as he is crucified. This etching into plaster of a wall is seen as mocking a Christian named Alexamenos and Jesus on the cross, believed to be from the third century (1). In the centuries to come, Jesus began being depicted as not slouching his body on the cross and his arms seemingly full of strength. This, coupled with having a halo over his head in some art pieces, helped in emphasizing his divinity (2).
In the rise of the Medieval ages, so did there come a new piece of art. Often a narrative pieces made of three panels, stories of the bible would be shown through triptychs. These would be seen adorning alter pieces in churches and as not everyone at the time could read, this would be another form of visual storytelling to illiterate Christians (3). Many triptychs depicting the crucifixion of Jesus would have Jesus himself be the center piece, and the left panel would show his birth, and the right being his eventual resurrection. Those who would construct and commission such art would have these pieces aid in prayer and show their own devotion and piety. In these newer constructs Christ wore no shirt but a skirt, began to slouch on the cross, and was drawn as emaciated with wounds on his body. Even in the sky/background angels can be seen showing shocked expressions on their faces. The reason for these new details were to have people connect emotionally with their faith, seeing Jesus as suffering for his followers (2).
If you'd like to see an example of a triptych, click here (5)
When it came to the specific use of color in these art pieces, they were chosen with specific intentions in mind. The colors were meant to signal darkness at daytime, meaning to show the darkened sky after Christ's death, and create a dramatic setting. Some pieces of art show both the sun and moon, imbuing the scene with rich celestial and cosmological importance. Showing these two celestial entities were mean to represent God's anger at the death of Jesus. After the first instances of these details, the sun and moon became more and more common characters in crucifixion art (4).
(1) "The Crucifixion of Jesus in Medieval Art." Midevalists.net, https://www.medievalists.net/2015/04/the-crucifixion-of-jesus-in-medieval-art/.
(2) Stracke, Richard. "Images of the Crucifixion: Historical Art Development" A Guide to Christian Iconography: Images, Symbols, and Texts, 2016, https://www.christianiconography.info/crucifixion.html
(3) Martin, Tatty. "What is a Triptych" Rise Art, https://www.riseart.com/guide/2414/what-is-a-triptych#:~:text=The%20triptych%20first%20made%20its%20appearance%20in%20the,important%20way%20of%20visualising%20Christianity%20and%20showing%20devotion.
(4) Savage, Jessica. "The Iconography of Darkness at the Crucifixion" The Index of Medieval Art, 4 April, 2018, https://ima.princeton.edu/2018/04/04/the-iconography-of-crucifixion-darkness/#:~:text=In%20early%20medieval%20crucifixion%20scenes%20they%20represented%20God%E2%80%99s,Crucifixion%2C%20positioned%20as%20sorrowful%20figures%20mourning%20Christ%E2%80%99s%20death.
(5) "The Crucifixion" https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/triptych-the-crucifixion-rogier-van-der-weyden/3gF9kN6BYvNuxw?hl=en
