De koning van de Ammonieten eist land op 1643

Nicolaes Ryckmans' etching *De koning van de Ammonieten eist land op* (1643) depicts the biblical story of Jephthah, a judge of Israel who led his people to victory against the Ammonites. The scene shows Jephthah's envoys, kneeling before the Ammonite king, as he points to a map and demands the return of land he claims as his own. This engraving, held in the Rijksmuseum, captures a moment of tension and conflict, highlighting the political and territorial struggles of the time. The artist's meticulous detail and use of chiaroscuro techniques create a sense of drama and realism, making it a compelling depiction of this biblical narrative.