Religieuze leiders kaarten met de Duivel 1608

Editor: So, here we have "Religious Leaders Playing Cards with the Devil," an engraving by Jacob van der Heyden, dating back to 1608. The starkness of the print definitely amplifies the rather cynical scene. I'm curious, what's your interpretation of this gathering around the card table? Curator: Oh, a delicious game of high-stakes poker, darling! And what’s the wager, hmm? Souls? Power? Maybe just bragging rights at the 17th-century equivalent of a dark web poker night. Jacob van der Heyden serves us a slice of societal satire, right? You've got your power brokers – look at the pope, the merchant – seated around this table with the devil, engaging in, essentially, the banality of evil. Tell me, who do you think will win this hand? Editor: That's a fun idea! I assumed with the devil there, he'd automatically have the upper hand. Although the expressions are unreadable, they might reveal some strategy. Are those Ottoman characters? Or maybe Jewish? And the Pope looks confident, yet corrupt in a way. The devil as the winner seems a little too on the nose, don't you think? Curator: "On the nose" perhaps, but then again, consider the times. The printing press had exploded onto the scene; satire was the spiciest dish on the menu, and trust me, they served it *hot*. This image speaks to anxieties around religious authority, emerging capitalism, and the "other." Who *benefits*? Van der Heyden cleverly leaves it open, the devil as a reflection of the players’ own darkness. Editor: It's fascinating how a simple card game can hold so much societal critique. I had initially viewed this as a straightforward morality play, but I'm starting to see much more nuance, especially regarding the power dynamics at play. Curator: Nuance is the name of the game, my dear. A card game is a fitting analogy: fortunes are won and lost at the table of power and everyone is playing. And everyone is bluffing. So who's gonna fold? Editor: Definitely gave me something to think about and a new way to read those serious engravers from the Baroque period. Thank you for your brilliant perspective!