Steniging van Achan 1728

This engraving by Gilliam van der Gouwen, made around 1740, depicts the Stoning of Achan. The eye is immediately drawn to the foreground, where a figure, possibly Joshua, presides over the scene with a commanding gesture. The composition is structured to create a sense of depth and drama. Note how the artist uses tightly packed figures in the middle ground and how they lead to the distant, mountainous landscape. The landscape serves not just as a backdrop but amplifies the scale of human actions. The lines here are sharply defined, contributing to the graphic quality of the print. This creates a sense of dynamism, which evokes the violence of the event. It prompts questions about the nature of justice, community, and individual fate. The print's formal elements work together to evoke the emotional and philosophical weight of the biblical narrative.