Duivels in de onderwereld 1715

Bernard Picart's "Devils in the Underworld," etched around 1725, plunges us into a symbolic abyss. Here, we see the devil enthroned, a snake coiled around him, a clear nod to the serpent in the Garden of Eden, embodying temptation and primal sin. This motif of the serpent recurs throughout art history. From ancient Mesopotamian depictions to its presence in countless Renaissance paintings. Snakes symbolize knowledge, life, and death in an endless cycle. Note the hybrid creatures and the chaotic scene that evoke a sense of unease and primal fear. The winged demons recall similar figures in medieval art, perpetuating a collective memory of hell as a place of torment and monstrous beings. Such imagery taps into a deep, subconscious fear of the unknown. The symbols within this image continue to resurface, their meanings morphing with each reinterpretation, echoing humanity’s eternal struggle with morality and the shadows of its own psyche.