Pelikaan voedt zijn jongen met zijn eigen bloed 1639 - 1689

Editor: Here we have "Pelikaan voedt zijn jongen met zijn eigen bloed," an engraving dating from the late 17th century. It depicts a pelican feeding its young, rendered in very fine lines. It has a rather morbid feeling, what with the blood and all. What do you make of this piece? Curator: Indeed. While seemingly gruesome at first glance, consider how the image participates in a rich visual language. The pelican, wounding itself to feed its young with its own blood, echoes an ancient Christian allegory for Christ's sacrifice. Do you notice the positioning of the pelican in relation to the cross and the serpent? Editor: Yes, there's a snake wrapped around the cross, which feels significant. Curator: Precisely. The serpent, traditionally symbolic of temptation and sin, is juxtaposed here against the pelican's self-sacrifice. It is evocative of the Fall and Redemption, that Christ, like the pelican, offers his own lifeblood for the nourishment and salvation of humanity. Editor: So it's about turning a symbol of sin into something good? Curator: In a sense, yes. Remember, symbols often carry multiple, even contradictory meanings. In this case, it appears the imagery deliberately conflates, then inverts existing cultural symbolism, the life-giving wound becomes the sign of devotion. Editor: I hadn't considered that the disturbing imagery could be such a powerful symbol of love and redemption. It’s really clever how the artist uses familiar images in a new way. Curator: The piece reminds us that even the most unsettling images can carry profound meaning, if we delve into their symbolic and historical roots.