Reliëf met allegorische voorstelling van de Tien Geboden, gesneden uit lindehout 1869 - 1887

This relief, now in the Rijksmuseum, is an allegorical representation of the Ten Commandments, carved in linden wood by an anonymous artist. Wood has a direct, earthy quality, in this instance shaped using small hand tools. The carver would have used chisels and gouges to remove material, gradually revealing these biblical scenes in intricate detail. Though we don’t know who made this, it’s clear they had mastery of established techniques. This work has a tactile quality; the artist's labor evident in the carved surfaces. Linden wood is ideal for carving because of its fine grain and relative softness. It allows for detailed work without splitting, making it a favorite material for sculptures and reliefs. But wood is also associated with vernacular craft traditions. By choosing this material, the artist invites us to consider the work’s message about law and morality in relation to everyday life. In that sense, the image connects the divine and the quotidian, the monumental and the intimate.