De uforstandige jomfruer forsømmer deres møde med Herren 1604 - 1608

Jan Saenredam etched this print, "The Foolish Virgins Neglecting Their Encounter with the Lord," capturing a pivotal moment of unpreparedness. Here, the dominant symbol is the oil lamp, or lack thereof, signifying spiritual readiness within a Christian context. The motif of the waiting virgins, some with lamps extinguished, echoes through time. We see similar themes in ancient Greek myths, such as the story of Psyche, whose tasks often involve light and darkness as metaphors for knowledge and ignorance. The extinguished lamp is not merely an oversight; it embodies a deeper psychological truth—the human tendency to delay preparation for the unknown, leading to inevitable regret. Consider the emotional weight Saenredam conveys through slumped postures and desperate gestures. These are visual manifestations of anxiety and the stark realization of failure. Just as dream symbols condense complex emotions, the artist captures the essence of unpreparedness, engaging viewers on a profound, subconscious level. Ultimately, the extinguished lamp resurfaces continually, adapting to new cultural contexts, yet retaining its core meaning—a potent reminder of the cyclical nature of vigilance and neglect throughout history.