De bijbel op de weegschaal 1660 - 1693

This undated print titled ‘The Bible on the Scales’ comes to us from an anonymous artist. It’s a visual representation of the religious and political tensions of its time. The central image presents a scale balancing the Catholic Church against the reformers, using the Bible as a standard. The artist's choice to depict the Catholic Church with such elaborate regalia is contrasted sharply with the reformers’ somber attire. The composition suggests a society in flux, grappling with questions of religious authority and individual conscience. How do these sartorial signifiers of identity play into established power dynamics? The emotional weight of the piece comes from the recognition of the deeply personal stakes involved in these ideological battles. The artist asks us to consider the human impact of these conflicts, and how we might weigh our own beliefs.