Uittocht van Lot en zijn dochters met de engelen c. 1614 - 1616

Gerard ter Borch's pen drawing, "The Exodus of Lot and his Daughters with the Angels", depicts a pivotal Old Testament scene. Lot, guided by angels, flees the doomed city of Sodom with his daughters. The angel, a divine messenger, is a motif that resonates across cultures, from ancient Greece to Renaissance art, embodying guidance and protection. Here, their presence signals divine intervention, a motif echoed in countless depictions of annunciation and salvation. The lantern, carried by one of the figures, illuminates their path but also symbolizes hope amidst darkness. This small flame is reminiscent of the classical torch, a beacon of knowledge, here transformed into a guiding light through moral obscurity. The composition creates a powerful emotional tension, inviting viewers to reflect on themes of judgment, salvation, and the fragile nature of morality. This image reminds us that symbols are never static; they evolve, adapt, and resurface, carrying echoes of the past into the present.