Verraad van Judas 1629

This engraving, made by Christoffel van Sichem II, captures the betrayal of Judas with stark symbolism. The haloed figure of Christ stands in contrast to the chaos of soldiers, their raised weapons a signifier of impending violence, while a radiant orb looms above, a divine witness to the unfolding drama. Consider the orb, reminiscent of solar deities in ancient mythologies. Its presence here echoes the celestial judgment, a motif we find recurring from Egyptian sun gods to the all-seeing eyes of Renaissance art. This symbol transcends mere representation; it taps into a primal fear and awe, resonating with our collective memory of divine power and inescapable fate. The figures surrounding Christ, caught in a moment of frenzied aggression, evoke similar scenes of persecution found throughout art history. This convergence of religious narrative and potent, timeless symbols is no accident, it is a deliberate invocation of our deepest emotional and psychological responses.