Het martelaarschap van Mattheüs 1577 - 1582

Hendrick Goltzius' engraving captures the martyrdom of Saint Matthew, a scene dominated by stark contrasts. Matthew, haloed, stands calmly beside an altar, while chaos erupts around him as he is attacked. The sword held high by the executioner is not merely a weapon but a symbol of violent power. Echoes of this motif resound through time, from Roman gladiatorial combats to Renaissance depictions of Salome with John the Baptist's head, each reflecting humanity’s complex relationship with violence and sacrifice. Notice how the victims recoil, exposing their necks, a primal gesture of fear and submission. These gestures are almost theatrical in their intensity. The persistence of such symbols and gestures reveals a collective memory, a subconscious understanding of archetypal roles, and enduring themes of suffering, and redemption. The image taps into a deep reservoir of human emotion, compelling us to confront the raw, unfiltered aspects of existence. This is not merely an historical scene but a vivid reminder of the cyclical nature of human experience, where violence and faith perpetually intertwine.