Roeping van Zacheüs Possibly 1630 - 1702

This is an engraving titled "The Calling of Zacchaeus," an anonymous work that resides in the Rijksmuseum. Notice Zacchaeus perched in the tree, a visual symbol that represents his separation and desire to rise above his earthly limitations. The tree motif—often depicted as a locus of knowledge and transformation—reappears across cultures, from the Tree of Life in ancient mythologies to the Bodhi tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment. Consider how the act of climbing signifies a spiritual quest, a yearning to transcend one's current state. Think of Jacob's Ladder, bridging heaven and earth; or the alchemist’s search for the philosopher’s stone. Here, the tree is not merely botanical, but laden with symbolic meaning, capturing the transformative moment of divine encounter. The artist taps into our collective unconscious, evoking the profound psychological yearning for change and redemption. It’s a motif that echoes through time, evolving with each telling, yet rooted in the primal human desire for transcendence.