Aanbidding van het Lam Gods before 1646

This is Christoffel van Sichem the Younger’s woodcut, “Adoration of the Lamb," made sometime in the 17th century. The composition is divided into two distinct registers, separated by an arc of clouds. Below, we observe figures kneeling in adoration of the Agnus Dei, the Lamb of God, radiating light. Above, more figures surround a seated, central figure. Notice how the linear quality of the woodcut emphasizes the detailed drapery and the expressive gestures of the figures. The entire image is structured around a play of light and shadow, created by the density and direction of the lines. This creates a sense of depth and volume, and also directs the viewer's eye towards the lamb at the center, as well as vertically to the figure in the upper register. The work can be understood as a complex symbolic system, where elements such as the lamb, the books, and the gestures of the figures all function as signs pointing to deeper religious meanings.