Judas sluipt weg van het Laatste Avondmaal 1670 - 1682

Melchior Küsel created this engraving, "Judas sluipt weg van het Laatste Avondmaal", or "Judas slinks away from the Last Supper", in the 17th century. Küsel lived during a time of significant religious and political upheaval in Europe, marked by the aftermath of the Reformation and the ongoing conflicts between Catholic and Protestant states. This work captures the moment of Judas's departure, a pivotal betrayal in Christian theology. Judas is often seen as the ultimate outsider, burdened by the weight of his impending act. Küsel’s depiction invites us to consider how power dynamics and social pressures can influence individual choices. The setting of the Last Supper, traditionally a scene of unity and spiritual communion, is here disrupted by the figure of Judas, who is caught between loyalty and treachery. What does it mean to portray this moment of personal and collective crisis, and to what extent does this image reflect the broader societal anxieties of Küsel's time?