Dood van de eerstgeborenen in Egypte c. 1711s

This print, "Death of the Firstborn in Egypt" by J. van Buysen, presents a scene dominated by stark contrasts of light and shadow, realized through detailed engraving. The composition is structured around a dramatic diagonal, descending from the upper right, where an avenging angel hovers, to the lower left, crowded with figures of mourning Egyptians. The architecture in the background, with its classical columns and relief sculptures, frames the chaos, creating a stage for the unfolding tragedy. Van Buysen masterfully uses the contrast between the rigid structure of the architecture and the fluid, emotive poses of the figures to amplify the scene’s emotional impact. This interplay can be read through a structuralist lens, where the order and disorder are not merely aesthetic choices but reflect a deeper cultural tension between divine will and human suffering. The composition invites us to consider how historical and religious narratives are constructed through visual forms and what they communicate.