Samuel zalft Saul tot koning 1549

This black and white drawing, "Samuel anoints Saul as King" was created by Dirck Volckertsz Coornhert. The work immediately presents an intriguing landscape, divided into distinct zones using linear perspective and overlapping forms. In the foreground, the dramatic scene of Samuel anointing Saul unfolds. The stark lines defining the figures create a sense of tension and gravity. The artist uses a semiotic system, placing classical ruins and a pyramid in the background. These elements act as signs. They point to the transience of power, contrasting the divine act of anointment with human structures and achievements. The detailed rendering of nature, particularly the gnarled tree, introduces an element of organic form against geometric shapes. The tree might symbolize the natural order endorsing the event. The artwork questions traditional representations of authority by embedding a sacred moment within a landscape of temporal and structural metaphors. The artist prompts an ongoing interpretation of power, divinity, and humanity.