Christus bemint de waarheid, maar zij wordt gehaat door boosdoeners. 1566 - 1578

Dirck Volckertsz Coornhert etched "Christus bemint de waarheid, maar zij wordt gehaat door boosdoeners" sometime before 1590. Here, divine Truth stands illuminated, confronting Christ, while malevolence lurks in shadow, armed with bow and arrow. Truth's halo echoes ancient solar deities like Apollo, symbolizing enlightenment and clarity. This motif transcends cultures, appearing in various guises—from the sun disc of Ra in ancient Egypt to the radiant halos of saints in Christian iconography. The association of light with divinity remains a constant, tapping into a deep, primal human response. Consider, too, how Truth's nudity harkens back to classical ideals of beauty and purity, yet it also carries the weight of vulnerability. This symbol's persistence across millennia, evolving from pagan gods to allegorical figures, reveals the human psyche's enduring quest for understanding and meaning. Like a pendulum, this symbol will continue to swing through time.