XXIII 'T scheelt te veel 1614

This engraving by Roemer Visscher, presents us with an allegory through symbolic objects, crafted with ink on paper. The lantern and the oil lamp are not merely sources of light, but vessels of meaning. The lantern, with its enclosed flame, symbolizes concealed knowledge, while the open lamp represents wisdom made manifest. This dichotomy reminds me of Plato's cave, where shadows deceive until enlightened minds emerge into the light of true understanding. Notice how the lamp shines upward, its light piercing through the darkness, an eternal aspiration for clarity. Think of ancient Egypt, where obelisks reached skyward, or Gothic cathedrals whose spires aimed to touch the divine. Such symbols resonate across epochs, each iteration colored by the ever-shifting hues of human experience. This image speaks to our collective yearning for enlightenment. It evokes a deep, perhaps subconscious, connection to the primal power of light.