Negen kaarten met spotprenten op de Roomse Onfeilbaarheid, 1724 1724

This is a print from 1724, presenting nine satirical images of Roman Infallibility, crafted by an anonymous hand. Observe the recurring motif of divine light, piercing through the clouds. It symbolizes divine intervention, yet here it casts a critical gaze upon the figures and events depicted. This ‘light of truth’ is a powerful symbol, one that has roots in antiquity, often used to denote enlightenment or divine favor. In ancient Greece, we find similar depictions of gods bestowing light upon mortals, signifying knowledge or power. However, note how the meaning shifts here; the light reveals hypocrisy and challenges authority. Such visual strategies engage viewers on a deep, subconscious level, inviting them to question established norms and power structures. This symbol, the ‘light of truth’, undergoes a fascinating transformation across time, resurfacing in various contexts—religious, political, artistic—each time carrying a freight of cultural memory and subconscious associations, evolving, and taking on new meanings.