Mislukte zelfmoord op altaar 1764 - 1782

Simon Fokke etched this image entitled "Mislukte zelfmoord op altaar" in the 18th century. The scene is dominated by the altar. It is set against the backdrop of classical architecture and lush nature, and framed by the ritualistic act of sacrifice that points to powerful symbols. Notice the altar, an ancient site of offering and transformation. Here, the would-be self-sacrifice is thwarted, a narrative twist on the familiar motif. Altars appear throughout history, from ancient Greece to the Bible, as liminal spaces where the human and divine intersect. The figures surrounding the altar, frozen in expressions of despair and intervention, evoke the raw emotional intensity of the moment. This primal scene has the psychological power to stir deep, subconscious feelings. This powerful image connects to the history of sacrifice and the complex dance between life and death that reappears across time and cultures, evolving with each retelling.