Elia en de engel Possibly 1623 - 1702

Pieter Nolpe etched this scene of "Elia en de Engel" around 1613-1614. Here, the angel embodies divine intervention, a motif found across cultures. We see the winged figure, a symbol of spiritual guidance, gently awakening the prophet Elijah, whose weary posture suggests profound exhaustion. Consider how wings, these emblems of transcendence, appear in ancient Mesopotamian art and Egyptian mythology. In each context, they signify a connection to the divine, a bridge between earthly and celestial realms. The gesture of the angel touching Elijah is also significant. It echoes the laying on of hands, a ritualistic act of imparting power or healing. This iconography reminds us that symbols possess a life of their own. They are vessels carrying collective memory and resurface across time, echoing in various cultural and artistic forms. The emotional weight of this image lies in the universal human experience of needing comfort and guidance. It serves as a poignant reminder of the cyclical nature of hope and despair.