Fotoreproductie van het fresco Het laatste oordeel naar Andrea di Cione, genaamd Orcagna, in het Camposanto te Pisa, Italië 1860 - 1881

This is a photographic reproduction by Giacomo Brogi of Orcagna’s fresco, ‘The Last Judgement’ in Pisa’s Camposanto. It teems with symbols, from Christ in Majesty to angels blowing trumpets, all heralding the end of times. The division of the blessed and the damned reflects a dichotomy we’ve seen echoed across cultures and centuries. Consider the motif of the weighing of souls, present in ancient Egyptian art with Anubis judging hearts against the feather of Maat, a symbol of truth. This motif reappears here, transformed yet fundamentally the same. Observe the archangel Michael, his sword a visual cue that mirrors the classical figure of Nemesis, the bringer of divine retribution. This symbol connects to our collective subconscious, stirring primal fears of judgement. These echoes reveal how deeply ingrained such imagery is in our cultural memory. The past, it seems, never truly vanishes.