Saul und die Hexe von Endor 

Rembrandt van Rijn rendered this evocative pen and ink drawing of ‘Saul and the Witch of Endor.’ The scene is heavy with fateful symbolism. Saul, the king of Israel, seeks the Witch of Endor to conjure the spirit of the prophet Samuel, a forbidden act, symbolized by their clandestine meeting around the table. This act of necromancy, the consultation with the dead, echoes through ancient cultures. Consider the motif of the veiled figure, a constant in images of concealed knowledge, from ancient oracles to the veiled Isis. Here, the witch extends her hand over a circle; a gesture that can be traced back to ancient rituals, a posture of invocation and control. The circle itself, an age-old symbol of continuity and the eternal, now twisted to harness otherworldly forces. The psychological tension is palpable. Saul's desperation is a powerful force, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level, reminding us of our own anxieties surrounding fate and the unknown. This drawing, therefore, is a powerful nexus where ancient symbols resurface, forever changed yet resonating with their primal origins.