Lot en zijn dochters 1574

This drawing presents Lot and his daughters, an archetypal scene rendered by an anonymous hand. The composition is dominated by the figure of Lot, embracing one of his daughters while the other offers him a drink. The act of offering a drink is a motif that carries a deep cultural weight, evoking themes of hospitality, but here it signifies something darker. This gesture takes on an unsettling dimension within the biblical narrative, which involves incestuous acts. We find echoes of this motif throughout art history; consider the numerous depictions of Salome presenting the head of John the Baptist, or even classical bacchanals. These motifs resurface, charged with new meaning, reflecting the anxieties and desires of the collective unconscious. Observe how the emotional weight of the scene is amplified by the intimate embrace and the offering of the cup. This is not merely a representation of a biblical story, but an exploration of taboo, memory, and the cyclical nature of human experience.