De afgoderij van Salomo c. 1734 - 1801

Jacobus Buys created this artwork, "The Idolatry of Solomon," with pen and gray ink, depicting a biblical scene laden with symbols. Here, King Solomon is shown in a moment of spiritual transgression, offering incense to a pagan idol. Note the statue of the goddess—a classical nude figure—that stands in stark contrast to the monotheistic traditions of Solomon's heritage. This figure echoes images of Venus found in Renaissance art, a visual citation of pagan beauty and temptation. The act of offering incense, though originally a sacred ritual, has transformed here into a symbol of corrupted faith. Consider how the gesture of prayer, seen in the women behind Solomon, is similarly inverted. What was once a plea to the divine is now a surrender to forbidden desires, a departure from divine law. Such visual depictions serve as powerful reminders of humanity's susceptibility to stray from its spiritual compass. The image pulls at our subconscious, stirring a deep-seated awareness of the precarious balance between faith and desire, obedience and transgression. It is a symbol that continues to resonate through time, prompting reflection on our moral choices.