Judas de Makkabeeër als een van de negen helden 1621 - 1636

Editor: We're looking at "Judas de Makkabeeër als een van de negen helden," a print made by Willem de Passe sometime between 1621 and 1636. It's an intaglio engraving, so metal, lines… it feels very powerful. I’m drawn to his face, so serious, yet the curls are kind of funny, honestly. What do you make of this portrait? Curator: Ah, Judas Maccabeus! Looking at this engraving, I feel transported. The detail! The texture! You're right; those curls are wonderfully eccentric – almost defying the seriousness of the subject. Notice how the inscription emphasizes his zeal and divine purpose, framing him not just as a warrior, but as a protector. This era was fascinated with depicting historical figures as paragons of virtue and strength. Do you see how the artist balances the stern expression with those playful, almost whimsical, details in the hair and the ornamental frame? Editor: Definitely, I see what you mean, there's tension between the serious subject and some playful details! The frame looks very heavy too, and he seems stuck in that oval. Was that intentional? Curator: Good eye! Yes, I think the artist intentionally trapped him inside the ornamental border to stress that while he was heroic, his life was limited. What I adore about pieces like this is how they attempt to freeze and deify figures like Judas in one decisive pose and moral definition. What do you make of the verse down below the engraving? Editor: The verse feels a little forced. "In Counsell sage he was, in Battle stout…." like they’re really hammering home that he’s great at everything! Curator: Exactly! It's almost comical in its insistence. Yet, these seemingly rigid depictions reveal more about the *aspirations* of the time, don't they? Editor: I see it now. Less about who he actually was, and more about who they wanted him to be, like a superhero! Curator: Precisely. And through that gap - that contrast - we glimpse real human stories bubbling to the surface!