Embleem met engel die aan man toont dat hij moet leven naar het voorbeeld van heiligen 1620 - 1623

This emblem, made by an anonymous artist, presents a vision of religious life as a path to salvation. Created during a period of intense religious and social change, this work reflects the era’s spiritual preoccupations. At its heart, the image stages an encounter between the earthly and the divine. An angel guides a man toward a life modeled on the saints, illuminating a path to heavenly reward. Light rays connect figures engaging in religious devotion with a celestial scene. The depiction of an all-male trinity along with the many women kneeling on the ground reinforces a hierarchical view of gender. The print invites us to consider the roles of faith and individual action in shaping one’s destiny. How does the artwork reinforce or question the traditional representations of its time? It encapsulates a message deeply embedded in the cultural and emotional landscape of its time.