Engel drijft geblinddoekt kind met zweep voor zich uit in tredmolen 1628

This woodcut was created by Christoffel van Sichem II in the 17th century. It presents an unsettling scene of a child, blindfolded, being driven by an angel with a whip to walk in a treadmill. Consider the treadmill itself, a symbol of relentless, often futile labor. We find echoes of this motif in ancient depictions of the underworld, where souls are condemned to repeat tasks endlessly. The blindfold, a potent symbol, suggests ignorance or a lack of awareness, a theme that recurs in allegories of justice and fate across cultures. Think of Fortuna, often depicted blind, dispensing luck without discernment. The angel, traditionally a benevolent figure, here assumes a more ambiguous role, brandishing a whip—an instrument of coercion and control. This evokes complex emotions, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. The image reminds us that symbols are never fixed; they are constantly reshaped by the shifting sands of history and culture.