Oude man spreekt twee geestelijken aan 1722 - 1784

Simon Fokke crafted this engraving, now in the Rijksmuseum, depicting an old man confronting two clerics. The figures' garments speak volumes; the clerics are draped in formal robes and caps, symbols of their religious authority, while the old man is in commoner’s clothing and leans heavily on a staff. This emblem of the shepherd or patriarch has roots stretching back to ancient times. The staff, a symbol of guidance, reappears in classical antiquity, held by figures like Hermes, mediating between gods and mortals. It evolves through the ages, shifting from a symbol of divine authority to one of worldly experience. Just as the classical Hermes navigated the realms, the old man in Fokke’s engraving seems to confront the clerics, challenging established dogma with the weight of his experience. The contrast evokes a powerful tension, capturing a moment laden with social critique, resonating with the eternal dance between tradition and change.