Preekstoel met het alziend oog 1780

This is Johann Carl Schleich’s depiction of a pulpit with the all-seeing eye. The Eye of Providence, radiating light, watches from above, a symbol laden with centuries of meaning. It appears in varied forms across cultures, from ancient Egypt's Eye of Horus, representing protection and royal power, to its adoption in Christian iconography during the Renaissance, signifying divine omniscience. Here, it suggests not just observation but also divine guidance and judgment. But consider, too, its later resurgence during the Enlightenment, finding its way onto the American dollar bill amidst symbols of reason and progress. Does it retain its religious weight, or does it transform into a symbol of secular authority, a watchful state? This image evokes a deep-seated human desire for higher protection, a force that transcends time and culture, resurfacing through collective memory and subconscious processes. It is a potent reminder of how symbols evolve, adapt, and continue to engage us on a primal, psychological level.