Engel redt kind uit zee 1590 - 1624

This engraving, made by Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert and held at the Rijksmuseum, captures a dramatic scene through contrasting textures of rough seas and smooth angelic forms. The composition is divided vertically, with a dark, craggy cliff on the left balanced by a stormy sea on the right. The angel, rendered with delicate lines, offers a stark contrast to the turbulent waters threatening to engulf the child. Note how the engraver uses dense, cross-hatched lines to convey the storm's ferocity, while the angel's wings and garments are depicted with softer, more flowing lines. This juxtaposition serves to amplify the divine intervention amidst chaos. The formal tension between light and shadow enhances the narrative's emotional intensity. The child's outstretched arms create a visual bridge, inviting us to contemplate themes of salvation, protection, and the triumph of order over chaos. The Latin inscription at the bottom acts as a semiotic marker, directing our interpretation towards a theological reading of the image.