Aartsengel Michaël doodt de draak 1691 - 1767

This print by Louis Surugue depicts the Archangel Michael triumphing over the dragon, a powerful symbol of good conquering evil deeply rooted in Christian iconography. Here, Michael stands victorious, spear in hand, his foot firmly planted on the defeated beast. Consider how this scene echoes through art history. The motif of a divine figure vanquishing a serpent appears in ancient mythologies, from Marduk slaying Tiamat in Babylonian lore to Apollo defeating Python in Greek legend. What resonates in all of these images is the archetypal battle between order and chaos, light and darkness. The dragon itself is a potent symbol, morphing across cultures. In the West, it often embodies sin and destruction, while in the East, it can represent wisdom and strength. These variations reveal how symbols are not fixed but are instead fluid, shaped by collective memory and cultural context. This image speaks to our primal need for reassurance that good can overcome the monstrous forces that threaten us, resonating on a deeply psychological level.