De mensheid wachtend op het Laatste Oordeel 1581 - 1583

"De mensheid wachtend op het Laatste Oordeel" (Mankind Awaiting the Last Judgement), created by Johann Sadeler I in 1581-1583, is a captivating etching depicting a group of people oblivious to the impending apocalypse unfolding outside. The scene, likely inspired by the parable of the ten virgins, contrasts the carefree revelry of the figures within the room with the chaos and fiery destruction visible through the window and outside, illustrating the importance of spiritual preparedness. Sadeler's detailed rendering of both the interior and exterior scenes creates a powerful visual statement about the fragility of life and the inevitability of judgment. The work, housed at the Rijksmuseum, is a testament to Sadeler's skill as a printmaker and a reminder of the enduring themes of mortality and redemption that have resonated throughout art history.