Michaël en de val van de opstandige engelen 1705 - 1754

Jacob de Wit rendered this etching, "Michael and the Fall of the Rebel Angels," presenting us with a dramatic scene of divine conflict. Here, we see the archangel Michael, shield emblazoned with divine script, triumphing over the rebellious angels cast down from heaven. This motif of celestial battle is not unique, echoing through time from ancient Mesopotamian myths to classical depictions of the Titanomachy. Observe the fallen angels contorted in anguish, their forms a grotesque fusion of human and beast. This descent into monstrous form mirrors the psychological degradation of those who defy divine order, a theme explored throughout the ages. Consider the shield, a symbol of divine power and protection. Its appearance in art transcends cultures, resurfacing, for example, in classical depictions of Athena. Its divine script, indecipherable yet potent, suggests an ancient language, a source of profound truth beyond human comprehension. This image is not merely a biblical illustration, it taps into a collective memory of cosmic struggle, echoing in our subconscious, and prompting reflection on our own internal battles between good and evil.