Aanbidding van het gouden kalf 1615

Orazio Borgianni created this etching titled ‘Adoration of the Golden Calf,’ now held in the Rijksmuseum. The composition is dominated by a central gathering of figures, their forms delineated through fine, cross-hatched lines, creating a sense of depth and movement within the small picture plane. Borgianni’s mastery lies in his use of line to convey texture and emotion. Observe how he uses the medium to question established values. The people are depicted in a state of frenzy around the idol, their gestures expressive, while Moses descends from the mountain in the background, carrying the tablets of law. The composition is structured to lead the eye from the divine law to the chaotic worship of the golden calf, presenting a visual dichotomy between order and chaos, faith and idolatry. The print serves as a powerful commentary on the human tendency to stray from abstract principles. The formal rendering of this scene encourages a discourse on the nature of belief.