The Tower of Babel 

Tobias Verhaecht painted this interpretation of the Tower of Babel during the late 16th to early 17th century, a period marked by significant social and religious upheaval in Europe. The painting depicts the biblical story of humanity attempting to build a tower to reach heaven, challenging divine authority. Verhaecht’s depiction reflects the anxieties of a society grappling with its own ambitions amid religious conflict. You see, the tower itself becomes a symbol of human hubris. Its incomplete state and the scattering of its builders, illustrate the futility of challenging a higher power. The painting isn’t just about the relationship between humanity and God, it also reveals the complexities of social hierarchies. The workers are small and indistinct, while the ruling figures are more prominent. This underscores the exploitation inherent in such grand endeavors. How does this reflect our own world? Can we build together? And can we do so, ethically?