Pest bij de Filistijnen c. 1645 - 1660

Jean Baron created this print, "Pest bij de Filistijnen," sometime between 1616 and 1660, using engraving. The monochrome medium emphasizes the stark contrast between light and shadow, immediately evoking a somber mood. The composition is densely populated, with figures arranged to guide the eye through scenes of suffering and chaos. Baron employs the language of classical architecture—columns, entablatures, and stylized buildings—as semiotic devices. They underscore the themes of order disrupted by divine wrath. This structure provides a stage for the human drama unfolding, a space where bodies are strewn and contorted by the plague. The artist uses line to define form. This emphasizes not only anatomical detail but also the emotional states of the figures. The print functions as a powerful statement on human frailty, explored through the lens of religious narrative. It questions fixed notions of power. It suggests that even the most structured societies are vulnerable to unseen forces. This piece invites us to reflect on the transient nature of existence and the narratives we construct to understand our place in the world.