Satan troont voor de hellemond en spreekt met Christus 1696 - 1721

Jan Baptist Berterham's engraving presents us with Satan enthroned before the mouth of Hell, engaging in discourse with Christ. Observe the dominant symbol here: the figure of Satan. Here he is winged, horned, and presiding over a macabre court of demons. These symbols, deeply rooted in Christian iconography, serve to personify temptation and moral corruption. This depiction has origins that stretch back to ancient pagan deities, figures later demonized and integrated into the Christian narrative as a symbol of resistance to divine order. Consider how the archetype of the horned deity resurfaces through history; from the Greco-Roman Pan to the medieval depictions of the Devil, the figure embodies primal instincts and earthly desires. This engraving taps into a collective fear, engaging viewers on a subconscious level, evoking a profound emotional response linked to deeply ingrained cultural and psychological associations. These symbols progress in a non-linear fashion, evolving and resurfacing in varied contexts, demonstrating the enduring power of visual language.