Kastijding onderricht de toorn van God 1574

This engraving, made by Wierix around the late 16th century, presents three allegorical figures central to its message: Chastisement, Marriage, and Fear of God. Consider the figure of Chastisement, lifting a bundle of rods, a symbol deeply rooted in the iconography of discipline and correction. This motif is not isolated. We see the use of rods across cultures—from the Roman fasces, symbolizing authority, to the birch rods of moralistic tales. This symbol carries the weight of societal control and internalized guilt. Its persistent reappearance throughout history suggests a collective unease, a perpetual negotiation between freedom and control embedded in our subconscious. The presence of the figure of Marriage and Fear of God intensifies the psychological atmosphere, highlighting the social pressures and moral expectations. The rod reminds us of the cyclical nature of history and how certain symbols resurface, transformed yet still potent, in our collective consciousness.