The Last Judgement 1452

Petrus Christus painted this "Last Judgement" panel, dominated by the imposing figure of Saint Michael, poised between salvation and damnation. Note the scales of justice, a motif dating back to ancient Egypt, where the heart was weighed against the feather of Ma'at to determine passage into the afterlife. Here, Saint Michael uses them to weigh souls. Observe how this symbol of balance and moral reckoning reappears across cultures, adapted to new religious and ethical frameworks, yet always tapping into our primal anxieties about judgement and accountability. The "Last Judgement" is a recurring theme that reflects humanity's deep-seated fears and hopes. It is a powerful reminder of our collective subconscious, constantly grappling with questions of morality, destiny, and the ultimate fate that awaits us all. The cyclical nature of these images underscores how such symbols resurface across time, continually reshaped by history and culture.