Belshazzar's Feast before 1576

Editor: This is Joannes van Doetecum's "Belshazzar's Feast". It's an engraving on a page, full of figures in a grand hall. All the action seems to be focused on this writing on the wall. What should we be looking for here? Curator: This image encapsulates the dangers of unchecked power and divine retribution. Consider Belshazzar's feast as a parable against those who abuse their authority. How does the artist visually represent this tension between earthly power and divine judgment? Editor: I guess the hand appearing feels pretty judgmental. Curator: Exactly! And think about the context: Belshazzar is using sacred objects for a drunken party. It's a direct challenge to the divine order. How does that resonate with contemporary issues of social justice and accountability? Editor: So it's not just a historical event; it's about power structures. That makes the engraving much more relevant. Curator: Precisely. Art like this urges us to critically examine power dynamics and our own roles within them.