Fotoreproductie van een illustratie door Thomas Stothard voor Eens Christens reize naar de Eeuwigheid door John Bunyan before 1881

This is a photo reproduction of an illustration by Thomas Stothard, though the photographer remains anonymous. The image is an illustration for John Bunyan’s *The Pilgrim’s Progress*. Considered one of the most significant works of theological fiction in English literature, *The Pilgrim’s Progress*, published in 1678, is an allegory of the journey towards salvation. In this scene we see the protagonist, Christian, in battle with the demonic Apollyon. The picture freezes a moment of conflict, rendered in dramatic fashion. In many ways, the story echoes the tumultuous religious and political landscape of 17th-century England, marked by the English Civil War and the persecution of religious dissenters like Bunyan himself, who was imprisoned for his nonconformist preaching. The story resonates so powerfully because of the universality of its themes: the struggle between good and evil, the quest for meaning, and the trials of faith. The images depicted emphasize the emotional and personal dimensions of these societal issues.