Hulpgeroep van Israëlieten gehoord door God de Vader 1645 - 1646

This woodcut, made by Christoffel van Sichem II, depicts God answering the call of the Israelites. God, enthroned in the clouds, is shown pointing downwards, answering the prayers of the Israelites who are kneeling with arms outstretched. This gesture of supplication, of raised arms, echoes across cultures and centuries. We see it in ancient Roman art, in depictions of conquered peoples begging for mercy, and it resonates through Renaissance paintings of saints imploring divine intervention. It reappears, transformed, in modern photographs of protests, embodying a primal cry for help that transcends language. This collective gesture, ingrained in our visual memory, evokes the vulnerability and desperation, tapping into a deep, shared understanding of human suffering and the eternal hope for deliverance. This gesture, laden with millennia of cultural weight, continues its cyclical journey, reappearing in new forms, and echoing the enduring human quest for solace and redemption.