The Sacrifice of Isaac 1585

Editor: This is Adriaen Collaert’s "The Sacrifice of Isaac," a 16th-century engraving. The detail is incredible! It strikes me as a visual representation of power: divine authority versus human agency. How do you read the power dynamics within this image? Curator: I see it as a potent symbol of the patriarchal structures deeply embedded in religious and societal norms. Think about the power Abraham wields over Isaac, reflecting a broader cultural expectation of obedience and sacrifice, particularly within the context of religious law and the subjugation of individual will. Editor: That's a chilling perspective. It shifts my view of the work entirely. Curator: Consider also the angel's intervention as a symbol of divine mercy tempering absolute power, perhaps commenting on the very real social and political issues of the time. Editor: So it’s less about faith and more about critiquing power. Thank you; I’ll never look at this the same way.