Twee engelen met een honingraat en sprinkhanen 1580 - 1600

This engraving by Jacob de Weert presents two angels flanking a central inscription, their hands bearing potent symbols: a honeycomb and locusts. These are not mere visual details but rather profound allusions to Saint John the Baptist, whose life of asceticism in the wilderness is echoed in these emblems. The honeycomb, a symbol of natural sweetness and divine provision, contrasts starkly with the locusts, representing the harsh realities of survival and the renunciation of worldly pleasures. We can find similar contrasts in earlier depictions of hermits and desert fathers, their lives defined by self-denial and spiritual quest. Consider, too, how these symbols might tap into our collective memory of wilderness and temptation. Just as John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ, these symbols prepare us for a deeper contemplation of faith and sacrifice, engaging our subconscious understanding of spiritual struggle. The cyclical nature of these symbols—reappearing across time and cultures—reveals the enduring human quest for meaning.