Triomf van de Waarheid 1593

"Triomf van de Waarheid" (Triumph of Truth), an anonymous engraving from 1593, depicts Truth, a nude woman, seated upon a pile of books. Her right hand holds a book while her left hand rests on a skull, symbolizing knowledge and mortality. Behind her stands a man, potentially a scholar, holding a lantern and a book, representing the light of truth. To her left, a figure representing falsehood is being held down by Truth's power. This intricate composition captures the triumph of truth over falsehood, and the power of knowledge in the face of evil. The detailed artwork, housed at the Rijksmuseum, offers a glimpse into early modern Dutch artistic and intellectual culture.