Dood van de eerstgeborenen in Egypte c. 1711s

This print, titled "Death of the Firstborn in Egypt", was made by J. van Buysen. It depicts a scene of devastation and divine retribution. The artwork captures a pivotal moment from the Book of Exodus, where the God of Israel inflicts a final, devastating plague on Egypt, the death of all firstborn sons. The scene is filled with dramatic tension and emotional turmoil. We see the horror of the Israelite God made manifest in the grief-stricken faces of the Egyptians and the lifeless bodies of their children. Van Buysen compels us to confront the human cost of divine power. The inclusion of Hebrew text reminds us of the narrative's origin and its role in shaping Jewish identity and collective memory. The image invites reflection on themes of power, justice, and the complex relationship between the divine and the human, leaving us to contemplate the enduring legacy of this biblical narrative and its implications for contemporary questions of identity, faith, and ethics.