Abraham en Melchisedek 1642 - 1704

Guillaume Vallet created this engraving, titled 'Abraham en Melchisedek', sometime between 1632 and 1704. Vallet, working in the Baroque period, situates this biblical encounter within a complex web of power, divinity, and earthly reward. In this scene, we see Abraham offering spoils of war to Melchizedek, a priest and king. The act of offering tithes takes on many meanings. Abraham recognizes Melchizedek's priestly authority and blesses Abraham, intertwining military victory with divine favor. The bodies of the men, some nude, others draped, some in armor, occupy a space in between sacrifice and submission, revealing the tension inherent in claiming divine justification for warfare. As we consider Vallet's 'Abraham en Melchisedek', it invites us to reflect on the narratives we construct around power, faith, and the spoils of conflict. It leaves us to ask: Who benefits from these stories, and whose voices are obscured in their telling?