Doortocht door de Schelfzee 1615

Orazio Borgianni created this etching, *Doortocht door de Schelfzee,* sometime around 1615. The composition presents a scene of dramatic chaos, rendered with intricate lines and varying shades of grey. The energy of the scene evokes an emotional response, drawing us into the heart of the biblical narrative. Borgianni uses the formal elements to amplify the thematic content. Notice how the artist contrasts the foreground and background. In the foreground, figures are densely packed and rendered with detail, emphasizing the human drama of salvation. In the background, the receding sea and pursuing army are sketched with lighter, rapid lines, conveying a sense of impending threat and relentless pursuit. Consider the use of light and shadow. A strong vertical beam of light cuts through the center, creating a visual pathway that guides the viewer's eye through the scene. This is not merely a rendering of a historical event, but a constructed image designed to evoke emotion and convey deeper symbolic meaning. How does this emphasis of light and shadow represent the divine intervention that disrupts the natural order?