Judaskus en arrestatie van Christus 1612 - 1615

Nicolaes de Bruyn etched this print, "Judas' Kiss and Arrest of Christ," around 1608, capturing a pivotal moment with potent symbols. Note the kiss of Judas, a betrayal marked by physical intimacy turned treacherous. This gesture resonates across time, echoing in countless depictions of deception and broken trust. Like a recurring nightmare, the kiss resurfaces in various guises throughout art history, reminding us of humanity’s capacity for perfidy. Look at the figure clinging to the tree, a motif of desperation, mirroring figures in ancient Laocoön sculptures. This pose, expressing anguish, taps into a deep well of human emotion, recurring through epochs. The spears held aloft signal aggression, a universal sign of impending conflict. In the viewer, this engraving stirs primal memories of conflict, a stark reminder of how such symbols persist.