Eerste dag van schepping: God schept hemel en aarde 1581 - 1656

Nicolaes de Bruyn etched this image of the first day of creation, showing God creating heaven and earth. Dominating the scene is God himself, his arm raised in a gesture of divine command, surrounded by a swirling chaos of clouds and light. The raised arm is a potent symbol, echoing through art history. We see it in classical depictions of Jupiter wielding thunderbolts and in Renaissance images of Christ as Pantocrator, the all-powerful ruler. This gesture transcends mere representation; it embodies the very act of creation, of imposing order upon primordial chaos. Consider the psychological weight of this symbol. The upraised hand speaks to our collective desire for control, for a guiding force in the face of uncertainty. It is an archetypal image, deeply ingrained in our cultural memory. The motif has shifted across time, appearing in various guises, yet its core meaning persists: a symbol of power, authority, and the ability to shape the world. This symbol, in its cyclical return, connects us to a deep, subconscious understanding of creation and authority.