Judas Iskariot bij de hogepriesters 1638 - 1646

This engraving, "Judas Iscariot with the High Priests," captures a pivotal moment of betrayal. The dominant visual element is the figure of Judas, money in hand, negotiating Christ's fate. This act is a potent symbol of avarice and deceit, deeply embedded in our cultural consciousness. The motif of betrayal resonates across time. We see echoes of it in Shakespeare's Iago, whose manipulative words lead to Othello's downfall, or even in the myth of Cain betraying Abel. Consider the transformation of the "kiss," traditionally a symbol of affection and greeting. Here, it becomes a mark of treachery, loaded with psychological weight. This subversion is not merely a narrative device, but a powerful engagement with our deepest fears and anxieties about trust and deception. The scene taps into collective memory, continually resurfacing in art and literature, each time refracted through new lenses, forever reminding us of the cyclical nature of human failing.