Allegorie met vrouwelijke personificatie en vier evangelisten 1728

This allegory was etched by François van Bleyswijck in Leiden in 1728. Here, the symbols speak volumes about the cultural and religious climate of the time. Dominating the scene is a female figure, perhaps an allegory for the Church or Divine Wisdom, holding a tablet inscribed with religious text. Above her, we see Christ in the heavens surrounded by the four Evangelists. Notice the recurring motif of light, streaming down, signifying divine illumination and truth. To the left, the stark imagery of a skull and cross evokes mortality and sacrifice, a potent reminder of Christ's suffering. Consider how similar symbols have appeared across history: the all-seeing eye, or the figure of Christ himself, which are not mere representations, but vehicles of intense emotional and spiritual power. These images trigger deep-seated memories and collective fears. Even the gesture of the figures—the Evangelists writing—harkens back to ancient scribes and the transmission of knowledge through generations. The cyclical nature of these symbols is striking; they resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, continually engaging viewers on a subconscious level.