Enorme verschrikkingen op aarde voorafgaand aan het Laatste Oordeel 1629

This small engraving, "Enorme verschrikkingen op aarde voorafgaand aan het Laatste Oordeel," was created by Christoffel van Sichem II. The composition is structured vertically, dividing the earthly chaos from the divine order above. Notice how the lower half teems with frantic figures amidst a landscape of destruction, illustrating earthly tribulations through dynamic poses. The scenes above present a celestial contrast. Here, rows of figures are neatly organized in an orderly fashion under the watchful gaze of divine figures. Rays of light, or perhaps divine judgement, split the gap between the heavens and earth. The sharp, graphic quality of the engraving technique emphasizes a structured and symbolic narrative. Sichem employs a semiotic system where each element—from the turbulent sea to the serene heavens—functions as a sign within a larger theological framework. The visual structure itself mirrors the hierarchical structure of the depicted world, reinforcing ideas of divine judgment and order.