Mozes laat de tafelen der wet zien 1675

Cesare Fantetti created this print, "Moses Shows the Tablets of the Law," probably around the 17th century. The composition is structured around a central figure of Moses, who is framed by groups of figures. The line work is intricate, defining the drapery and emotional reactions of the crowd. The organization of figures is intriguing as it directs our view, creating a semiotic relationship between the giver of the law, Moses, and the recipients. The horizontal lines of the tablets contrast with the dynamic diagonals of the figures’ gestures, which might be understood through a structuralist lens as a visual representation of divine law encountering human interpretation. Note the materiality of the print itself—the etched lines on paper mediate the divine narrative, turning the ineffable into something reproducible. This print invites us to consider how religious narrative and visual representation intersect, shaping cultural memory and interpretation.