Opwekking van Lazarus 1590 - 1633

Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert's "Opwekking van Lazarus," is an engraving teeming with potent symbols, illustrating the biblical moment of Lazarus' resurrection. The most striking motif is Christ's commanding gesture. This isn't merely a wave but a symbol of divine authority, echoing ancient depictions of rulers and gods bestowing blessings or issuing decrees. Think of Roman emperors raising their hands to address crowds, or even earlier Egyptian pharaohs, their outstretched arms signifying power over life and death. But here, the gesture is imbued with a transformative spiritual force. Note the emotional responses: despair, awe, and disbelief etched on the faces of onlookers, mirroring the psychological impact of witnessing the impossible. This emotional complexity resonates across centuries; the collective memory of human vulnerability confronts the hope of resurrection. The return of Lazarus transcends its religious context, illustrating the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth, a theme that echoes across cultures and persists in our collective consciousness.