Le Moufti, ou Chef de la Loy, plate 20 from "Recueil de cent estampes représentent differentes nations du Levant" 1714 - 1715

This engraving by Jean Baptiste Vanmour depicts a Mufti, or chief of law, amidst his scholars. The Mufti, adorned in an elaborate turban, raises his hand in a gesture that resonates across cultures and centuries. This open-handed gesture is not new; we have seen it before! Think of the classical orator, the Christian preacher, or even figures in ancient Egyptian reliefs. It’s an age-old symbol for teaching, blessing, and imparting wisdom, carrying a universal appeal that transcends cultural boundaries. It expresses the emotional weight of authority and knowledge. Observe how this gesture echoes in Renaissance paintings, where saints and prophets use similar hand movements to convey divine messages. The gesture becomes a shared language of power and enlightenment. The visual vocabulary of gestures is continuously recycled and re-inscribed with new cultural meanings. This plate serves as a reminder of how symbols, once created, never truly disappear, but resurface and adapt, shaping our collective consciousness across time.