Fotoreproductie van een prent naar een detail van een schilderij van Mozes die water uit een rots slaat door Bartolomé Esteban Murillo before 1860

This photogravure by Gustav Schauer reproduces Bartolomé Esteban Murillo's depiction of Moses striking the rock, a powerful biblical scene. Here, Moses, usually marked by horns of light—a symbol arising from a mistranslation of the Hebrew word for 'radiance'—stands before the rock, his staff raised, as water miraculously gushes forth. The motif of striking a rock to bring forth water echoes across cultures and epochs. We see it in ancient myths, where heroes prove their divine connection through such acts. This gesture, deeply embedded in the collective unconscious, speaks to humanity's primal need for sustenance and faith in times of despair. Think of the emotional resonance: the desert wanderers, parched and desperate, witnessing the life-giving water. The composition—the strong figure of Moses, the flow of water, the expressions of awe and relief—evokes a profound psychological response. This image serves as a testament to the enduring power of symbols, continually resurfacing and adapting to reflect the ever-changing tapestry of human experience.