De vijf dwaze maagden worden door de duivel de hel ingetrokken c. 1869 - 1925

This drawing, by Antoon Derkinderen, depicts the five foolish virgins being dragged into hell by the devil. The harrowing scene is dominated by the procession of veiled figures. The motif of veiled women has long haunted the human psyche. In antiquity, veils symbolized modesty and mystery, yet here they signify a deeper tragedy: spiritual blindness. The virgins’ averted gazes, common in images of shame and despair, echo through time, appearing in ancient Greek mourning figures and Renaissance depictions of the Deposition. Consider, too, the lamps. In the parable, they represent faith and preparedness. The extinguished lamps here evoke a profound sense of loss and the ultimate failure of vigilance. This imagery, resonating with our deepest fears of judgment, shows how symbols evolve, retaining their emotional power across centuries, tapping into a collective memory of morality and consequence.