The Offering at Bethel and the Man of God from Judah c. 1579

Editor: This vibrant print, "The Offering at Bethel and the Man of God from Judah" by Hans Collaert the Elder, depicts quite the dramatic scene! The colors practically leap off the page, and there's a real intensity in the gestures of the figures. What stories do you think it's trying to tell? Curator: Ah, it's a confrontation, a divine challenge to earthly power. The 'man of God' interrupts King Jeroboam's idolatrous sacrifice. Notice how Collaert uses the swirling smoke and the king's outstretched arm to emphasize the tension. It's a clash of beliefs made visible, wouldn't you say? Editor: It does feel like a showdown. I hadn't considered the smoke as a visual representation of the tension. Thanks, that's enlightening! Curator: Yes, art helps us to see these stories come alive.