Verbeelding van de belangrijkste religies ter wereld 1727

This is Bernard Picart’s etching of the world’s religions, made around 1700. Note how the artist assembles diverse religious practices—from Christian communion to Islamic prayer. He attempts to categorize the world’s faiths. Observe the tablets being presented. These tablets echo Moses receiving the Ten Commandments. In ancient Greece, written laws were also inscribed on tablets, divine and secular authority intertwined. This symbol of divine law appears in various forms across cultures. Picart's tableau invokes our collective memory, revealing how symbols persist, adapt, and reflect our deepest beliefs, resurfacing through generations. Each iteration carries the weight of history, resonating in our subconscious. The image’s emotional power lies in its attempt to reconcile the irreconcilable, reflecting our eternal quest for meaning and connection. In essence, the tablets reflect a continuous human journey marked by revelation, interpretation, and the enduring power of symbols.