Zondvloed after 1569

Etienne Delaune made this engraving of "Zondvloed," or "The Flood," sometime in the mid-16th century. Delaune was a French artist, and the prevalence of biblical scenes like this one during that time is rooted in the religious and social upheaval of the Protestant Reformation. Here, we see Delaune's interpretation of the biblical flood, a narrative laden with religious and cultural significance. The Ark floats in the background while humans and animals struggle in the rising waters. The artist emphasizes human suffering, highlighting the wages of sin through the desperate figures trying to escape the deluge. Delaune’s print underscores the role of the Church in offering salvation. As art historians, we can look to period literature, religious texts, and social histories to understand better the cultural importance of this image in its time. Only then can we appreciate the intricate relationship between art, belief, and society.