Bileam en de ezel 1645 - 1646

This woodcut, "Bileam en de ezel," was created by Christoffel van Sichem II. It captures a powerful scene from the Old Testament: the prophet Balaam, astride his donkey, is confronted by an angel of God, an angel only the animal is capable of perceiving. The donkey is a crucial motif here. Traditionally, the animal symbolizes humility and patience, and in this moment, spiritual insight. Balaam, blinded by greed, is ironically less perceptive than the beast beneath him. Note the angel barring the way, a symbol that appears throughout art history, be it a classical Hermes or a winged Victory: divine intervention, forcing a change of course. This motif of the animal with heightened perception surfaces in numerous forms, echoing the ancient myths where animals possess wisdom exceeding that of humans. The image evokes the power of the subconscious, a force that quietly guides us, unseen, unheard, until a moment of crisis. In Van Sichem's rendition, we are reminded of the cyclical nature of spiritual awakening—a recurring theme across cultures and centuries.