De profeet Aäron 1575 - 1613

This anonymous engraving from the 16th or 17th century, located in the Rijksmuseum, depicts the biblical figure of Aaron, the brother of Moses. Aaron is shown seated, holding a staff with a serpent entwined around it, a reference to the biblical story of the brazen serpent, where Aaron's staff was transformed into a serpent to cure the Israelites from a plague of snakes. The engraving, created using the technique of etching, is characteristic of the period with its detailed rendering of anatomy and drapery. The composition is balanced and the figure is depicted in a naturalistic pose. This artwork is an example of religious art, specifically, the depiction of biblical figures.