Blad met offerbenodigdheden 1736 - 1775

Jan Caspar Philips created this print, "Blad met offerbenodigdheden," sometime between 1700 and 1775, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Philips made this print during a time of great cultural exchange between Europe and other parts of the world through trade and colonization. The print meticulously illustrates various objects needed for religious ceremonies and sacrifices. These objects are rendered with the precision of an architectural drawing, each labeled and presented in a way that emphasizes their function. The visual language used here reveals a worldview rooted in religious practice and ritual, and we can ask ourselves what kind of belief systems underpin such actions. Consider the emotional weight of sacrifice – the giving up of something valued. This print prompts us to reflect on the human need to create meaning through ritual, and how these practices reflect and shape societal structures. What do these images tell us about power? And what about faith?