Tartarus 1668

Abraham Dircksz. Santvoort's 1668 etching, "Tartarus," depicts a scene of eternal punishment in the underworld. This small-scale work, housed in the Rijksmuseum, features a multitude of figures suffering various torments, such as being hanged or thrown into a well. A large, menacing, monstrous hand descends from the upper portion of the composition, signifying the wrath of God and the inescapable nature of eternal punishment. The artist's use of hatching and crosshatching creates a sense of depth and texture, adding to the dramatic depiction of the infernal landscape.