Bezoek van de koningin van Seba / Weduwe van Sarefat 1724 - 1769

Noach van der Meer created this print, "Visit of the Queen of Sheba/Widow of Sarefat," sometime in the 18th century. The work divides into two distinct scenes, each presenting a study in contrasts through linear precision and spatial arrangement. The upper scene, illustrating the Queen of Sheba’s visit, utilizes a wide, horizontal composition to convey the grandeur of a royal procession. The architectural setting, rendered with meticulous detail, establishes a clear perspectival recession, drawing the eye deep into the scene. Below, the depiction of the Widow of Sarefat adopts a more intimate, vertical format. The stark lines of the interior and the focused interaction between the widow and child emphasize a sense of immediacy and emotional closeness. The artist employs hatching and cross-hatching techniques to modulate light and shadow, creating a tonal range that enriches the narrative content. This formal articulation structures the viewer's experience, prompting a reflection on themes of power, piety, and the human condition as articulated through visual syntax.