Gelijkenis van de splinter en de balk én gelijkenis van de blinde die de blinde leidt 1593

This engraving, made around 1631 by Wierix, visualizes two biblical parables: the splinter and the plank, and the blind leading the blind. The composition is dominated by figures enacting these moral lessons. Consider the act of pointing out flaws. Here, the man with the plank—a symbol of immense personal failing—attempts to remove a splinter from another’s eye. This motif, rich in irony, reminds me of similar themes in classical literature, where characters blinded by hubris fail to see their own faults, echoing in Shakespearean tragedies and Greek myths alike. The plank, heavy with symbolic weight, represents not just a physical impediment, but a profound moral obstruction. The emotional power lies in our subconscious recognition of hypocrisy. We see ourselves, or others, in this flawed figure, perpetuating a cycle of judgement. This visual echoes across time, appearing in contemporary political cartoons, subtly altered but retaining its core psychological impact. The image serves as a mirror reflecting our own human imperfections, urging introspection.