Ester wordt voorgesteld aan koning Ahasveros 1647

"Ester wordt voorgesteld aan koning Ahasveros" (Esther is presented to King Ahasuerus), a 1647 etching by Cornelis van Dalen I, depicts a scene from the biblical story of Esther, where she is presented to the Persian King Ahasuerus. The detailed etching captures the drama of the moment, with Esther kneeling before the king, her hand resting on the hand of a woman standing next to her, while the king looks at her with a gesture of acceptance. The scene is set in a grand palace, with rich fabrics and decorative elements adding to the sense of grandeur. Van Dalen's etching is a prime example of Dutch Baroque art, known for its detailed and emotive depiction of biblical narratives. The print would have been made for a popular audience interested in religious stories and morality tales, making it an important document of 17th-century Dutch culture.