De tongenslijpers 1592

Hendrick Goltzius created this engraving, *The Tongue Sharpeners*, a commentary on gossip, without a known date. At first glance, we see men industriously grinding objects, but look closer: they are tongues, symbols of speech and communication. The sharpening stone itself, a tool of refinement, transforms into an instrument of potential harm. This scene echoes the classical motif of the *lingua viperina*, the viper's tongue, emblematic of poisonous words. Interestingly, the serpent, often associated with deception, makes no appearance here; instead, the focus is on human agency in the propagation of harmful speech. Even today, we recognize how easily words can be twisted and sharpened, their original intent eroded. This visual metaphor speaks to the cyclical nature of discourse and the enduring human capacity for both creation and destruction through language. A grim reminder that what we say holds lasting power.