Embleem met engelen die mannen aanmoedigen om mededogen te hebben met de smekende zielen in het vagevuur 1620 - 1623

This anonymous emblem print uses engraving to depict angels urging men to have compassion for souls in purgatory. Note the souls reaching up from the fiery depths. The motif of souls in torment appears throughout history, from ancient Greek depictions of Hades to medieval Christian art. The iconography of purgatory reflects a deep-seated human fear of suffering and a longing for redemption. Consider how the posture of the figures—arms outstretched, bodies contorted—mirrors similar expressions of anguish in works like Michelangelo's Last Judgment. The depiction of angels as intercessors connects to our collective memory, tapping into a primal need for divine intervention. This notion isn't confined to Christianity, but echoes across cultures where intermediaries bridge the gap between the human and the divine. This emblem print serves as a potent reminder of how symbols transcend time, continuously reappearing to address our deepest anxieties and hopes.