Mozes slaat water uit de rots 1582 - 1613

Pieter van der Borcht created this engraving, “Moses striking water from the rock”, around 1600. The composition is bisected by a diagonal stream flowing from left to right. On either side, the figures of Moses and the Israelites are arranged in corresponding groups. Note how the artist uses the formal structure of mirroring to explore themes of faith and divine power. The rock, centrally placed, acts as a focal point from which water miraculously springs, answering the thirst of the faithful. Observe the formal arrangement of the figures, their gestures mirroring each other, drawing attention to the structured layout of the artwork. The landscape, rendered with meticulous detail, is not merely a backdrop, but an essential element in communicating the themes. It reflects an ordered world which invites a semiotic reading into religious and cultural meanings. This piece is not just a visual narrative, but also an exploration of how artistic forms convey ideological narratives.