Plaag van hagel en onweer 1645 - 1646

Christoffel van Sichem II created this woodcut, "Plague of Hail and Thunder," sometime before his death in 1658. The composition is dominated by diagonal lines, which emanate from a dark cloud formation in the upper portion of the scene and connect to a ground plane filled with stricken figures. The linear perspective flattens the scene, creating a dynamic, almost chaotic surface. The sharp, contrasting lines of the woodcut technique amplify the sense of divine wrath. Figures are caught in gestures of fear and supplication, each rendered with meticulous detail that invites semiotic interpretation. Note how Sichem uses the medium itself to convey meaning. The stark black lines against the white background not only depict the scene but also evoke a sense of stark terror. This plague is not merely represented; it is made viscerally present through the formal qualities of line and composition.