Cherubijnen bestrijden Onwetendheid 1666 - 1707

Gérard Edelinck created this print titled 'Cherubijnen bestrijden Onwetendheid'—or 'Cherubs Combating Ignorance'—sometime in the 17th century. The scene is composed with a strong directional movement from left to right, as the cherubs, armed with shields, drive away the figures of ignorance. Edelinck's use of line in this engraving creates a dynamic texture, a play of light and shadow that enlivens the conflict. We see ignorance as a cowering, almost pitiful figure, being repelled by the active, vigorous cherubs. The composition is not merely decorative; it functions as an allegory. The cherubs, symbols of divine knowledge, represent a force that confronts and dispels ignorance. This piece engages with the broader philosophical concerns of the Enlightenment, which emphasized reason and knowledge as tools to combat ignorance. It is structured around the dualism of knowledge versus ignorance, a theme that has resonated throughout intellectual history. Notice how the arrangement of figures reinforces this ideological message, casting ignorance into shadow and pushing it toward the margins.