Uitnodiging van de profeet aan de godsman 1548 - 1554

This engraving, made by Dirck Volckertsz Coornhert, presents us with a scene dominated by gestures of invitation and supplication. The prophet's outstretched hand invites the godsman, while the seated figure responds with raised hands, a universal symbol of surrender or plea. Consider how such gestures resonate across time. We see similar postures in ancient Roman oratory, where open hands signified truth and sincerity, mirrored in Renaissance paintings to convey emotional intensity. Think of the countless images of saints, their hands raised in devotional ecstasy, an unbroken chain of visual expression. The godsman's pose evokes a deep emotional state, a blend of vulnerability and profound appeal that engages us on a subconscious level. This visual language, passed down through history, reminds us of the cyclical nature of human expression. It resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings, yet remains connected to its origins through a shared cultural memory.