Kop van de berouwvolle Judas before 1667

Moses ter Borch created this study of the head of the repentant Judas using pen in grey-brown ink with grey wash, sometime in the 17th century. During the Dutch Golden Age, there was an increasing interest in biblical and historical subjects, seen not only in painting, but also in printmaking and drawing. Ter Borch, who came from a family of artists, shows us Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. Judas is known for betraying Jesus, an act for which he later felt remorse. Here, Judas is not portrayed as an evil figure, but as a human being suffering from the weight of his actions. By focusing on his emotional state, ter Borch is reflecting the period's wider interest in exploring human psychology through art. The Rijksmuseum possesses a wealth of material relating to this period. Through these images, we can understand the cultural values of the time and the social role of the artists within it.