Allegorie op de uitwerking van bijgeloof en huichelarij 1770

This allegorical print, etched by Reinier Vinkeles in the late 18th century, presents a potent critique of superstition and hypocrisy. Here, the central figure, Blinded Superstition, brandishes a knife, poised to strike a victim, while Hypocrisy whispers in his ear, manipulating his actions with a mask. Note how the lightning bolts, a divine motif used since antiquity, now strike at the very temple of reason. This symbol of divine wrath, seen in countless Renaissance paintings, has been repurposed here to illustrate the chaos wrought by irrationality. Consider the recurring motif of the mask: from ancient Greek theatre to commedia dell'arte, the mask has long signified hidden identity and deception. In Vinkeles’s print, the mask worn by Hypocrisy is a tool of manipulation, stirring deep-seated fears of deceit. This image taps into our collective memory, engaging viewers with the primal conflict between reason and unreason, a dichotomy that continues to resonate today.