Strijd tussen de Israëlieten en de Amalekieten c. 1650

"Strijd tussen de Israëlieten en de Amalekieten" was etched by Antonio Tempesta in the late 16th or early 17th century. Born in Florence, Tempesta was a painter and engraver working amidst the religious conflicts of the Counter-Reformation. This print depicts a battle between the Israelites and the Amalekites. It mirrors the socio-political tensions of Tempesta’s era, where religious and political identities were constantly in conflict. Consider, for example, how the artist has chosen to portray the figures. What does it mean to frame the Israelites as righteous victors? How might this narrative resonate differently depending on one's own religious or cultural background? The print is not merely an illustration of a biblical event, but a reflection on the eternal struggle between different groups. It serves as a reminder of how historical and religious narratives have been used to justify conflict and shape identity.