Laatste Oordeel 1650

Conrad Meyer created this engraving, "The Last Judgement," in the 17th century. Look closely at the figure of Christ, enthroned on clouds, arms spread in a gesture of judgment. This pose echoes ancient depictions of divine authority, reminiscent of Jupiter or even earlier sky gods. Below, the symbolic division of souls unfolds: to the left, the resurrected rise toward salvation, guided by angels; to the right, the damned descend into a hellscape of demons and torment. This visual partitioning reflects a deep-seated human concern with morality and consequence. Consider how such imagery, with its roots in both Christian theology and earlier pagan beliefs about the underworld, has served as a potent cultural tool. The intense emotionality of the scene—ecstasy, terror, despair—engages viewers on a subconscious level, tapping into collective fears and hopes about the afterlife, a recurring drama played out across millennia. The non-linear progression of the symbol resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.