Mozes verdedigt de dochters van Reüel bij de bron 1660 - 1692

Pietro Aquila’s engraving depicts ‘Moses Defending the Daughters of Reuel at the Well,’ revealing a dynamic composition filled with narrative tension. The eye is immediately drawn to the contrasting scenes: the calm, rhythmic filling of water jugs on the left, versus the chaotic struggle on the right. Aquila masterfully uses line to define form and energy. Notice how the bold, diagonal strokes create a sense of movement and conflict, particularly in the depiction of Moses driving away the shepherds. The detailed hatching and cross-hatching, especially around the well, create depth and texture. The figures are carefully arranged to guide the viewer's eye through the unfolding drama, which has a rhythmic quality. The engraving's composition is not just a literal representation of a biblical scene, but an exploration into the formal qualities of tension, resolution, and pictorial balance. Aquila invites a semiotic reading, where forms and lines aren't merely representational but symbols of a deeper structural and philosophical understanding of the subject matter.