Vernietiging van het Egyptische leger in de Rode Zee 1645 - 1740

Christoffel van Sichem II created this woodcut, "Destruction of the Egyptian Army in the Red Sea," sometime before his death in 1658. The composition is a maelstrom of frantic energy, a sea of limbs and overturned chariots rendered in stark black and white. Look at the dynamism conveyed through the diagonal lines of the waves and the rearing horses. This isn't just a depiction of chaos; it's a structured presentation of divine intervention. The high contrast emphasizes the horror of the scene. Sichem uses the visual language of the time to reinforce a religious narrative, employing a semiotic system where drowning signifies not just physical demise but also spiritual defeat. Consider how the artist uses the formal elements to communicate broader philosophical and religious ideas about divine justice and the consequences of opposing God's will. Notice how the figures are arranged, almost as if caught in a vortex. This formal quality serves to reinforce the overwhelming power of the divine act. The image stands as a powerful example of how formal elements can convey complex cultural and philosophical meanings.