Engel met een handschoen en een haan 1608 - 1658

Abraham Hogenberg created this engraving, "Angel with a Glove and a Rooster," in the 17th century, a time of great religious and political upheaval in Europe. Hogenberg was working amidst the Reformation and Counter-Reformation. His prints often reflect the intense debates and conflicts of the time. Here, we see an angel who stands as a figure of divine judgment. The angel holds a gauntlet, a symbol of power and authority. The rooster perched above is a direct reference to the biblical story of Peter's betrayal of Christ; the crowd in the background appears to be mocking and jeering. The bag of spilled coins on the lower right is a stark reminder of betrayal and its consequences. The angel is barefoot, dressed in flowing robes, and gender ambiguous, so that they transcend simple binary definitions. The work invites us to consider the intersections of faith, power, and moral responsibility. It serves as a reminder of how historical and religious narratives are continuously reinterpreted through art.