Hemelvaart van Christus en verkiezing van Mattias 1643 - 1646

This engraving depicts the Ascension of Christ and the Election of Matthias. Observe how the anonymous artist divides the composition into distinct layers, each filled with symbolic import. At the top, the ascending Christ reminds me of the ancient Roman emperors carried aloft, apotheosized into the heavens. Below, the apostles gather, their gestures echoing the grief and awe found in countless depictions of mourning scenes across cultures, from ancient funerary rites to Renaissance lamentations. Note the casting of lots to choose Matthias—a motif echoing the capriciousness of fate seen in ancient Greek tragedies, where the gods often determined human destiny through unpredictable means. This act carries an emotional weight, a subconscious acknowledgment of the uncertainties inherent in human existence. The non-linear progression of religious symbolism is ever-present, resurfacing in various forms, continually evolving and adapting across time.