Het Heilig Avondmaal, voorgesteld in de opperzaal c. 1705 - 1754

Jacob de Wit rendered "Het Heilig Avondmaal, voorgesteld in de opperzaal" with pen in gray and brown ink and brush in gray, brown and red watercolor. De Wit, active during the Dutch Golden Age, situated this biblical scene within a period of significant cultural and religious shifts. The work reflects the complex interplay between religious tradition and the emerging values of the Enlightenment, a period in which reason began to challenge established dogmas. The drawing captures The Last Supper, rich with symbolic weight and steeped in Christian doctrine. How do we read the depiction of an all-male gathering through the lens of gender and power? This work invites contemplation on themes of sacrifice, betrayal, and spiritual communion. The intense, almost theatrical, presentation asks us to consider the emotional and personal dimensions of faith. By rendering this scene, de Wit echoes a tradition, while also engaging in a dialogue about faith, community, and the narratives that shape our understanding of history.