Het laatste oordeel 1548

Nicolò della Casa's engraving captures “The Last Judgement," a scene brimming with Christian eschatological symbolism. Angels wielding the instruments of the Passion – the cross, the crown of thorns, the column – dominate the composition, acting as potent reminders of Christ's suffering and sacrifice. These instruments are more than mere objects; they are “memory images,” laden with collective historical and religious significance. We see similar instruments in earlier depictions of the Passion, yet here, they transcend their narrative function, becoming symbols of judgement. The cross, once a symbol of earthly suffering, now represents divine authority. Consider the "imago," the charged image, evolving over time. What was once a symbol of torment transforms into one of hope and reckoning. This metamorphosis reflects our human struggle to reconcile suffering with meaning. Della Casa’s "Last Judgement" is a visceral reminder of how deeply these cultural symbols resonate within our subconscious, shaping our understanding of life, death, and the eternal.