Wijsheden van Jezus Sirach, rechterdeel 1547 - 1591

Gerard de Jode created this engraving, *Wijsheden van Jezus Sirach*, in the 16th century. At its base, a serpent arches, while above stands a figure with arms outstretched, gesturing emphatically. The serpent, a potent symbol, slithers through art history, embodying temptation and primal instinct. One can see the serpent's likeness in the Garden of Eden, coiled around the tree of knowledge, offering forbidden fruit. The gesture of the figure, arms raised, recalls the *Orans* pose, an ancient posture of prayer and supplication. Yet here, it seems charged with a more complex emotion, perhaps a plea against unseen forces. These symbols are not static; they evolve. The serpent, once a symbol of chaos, can transform into the caduceus, a symbol of medicine and healing. This constant flux mirrors our own psychological landscape, where primal fears and spiritual aspirations intertwine. The image taps into a deep well of collective memory, where our anxieties and hopes find expression.