Kain og Abels ofring 1701 - 1765

Susanna Maria Dorsch etched "The Sacrifice of Cain and Abel," a tableau brimming with loaded symbols. Here, we see the two brothers making offerings to God. Abel, on the right, makes a sacrifice of flesh to the heavens, with the flames reaching to the sky. Cain, on the left, folds inward, away from his offering. The act of sacrifice itself is an ancient motif, found in cultures across the globe, as a means to appease deities. But notice how Cain's offering differs. His posture, arms folded across his chest, speaks to the inner turmoil, the envy that will lead to fratricide. Think of the countless depictions of the Fall, where shame leads to concealment. Here, the shame precedes the act, foreshadowing his dark deed. Consider how these gestures echo through time. The turned face and the hidden hands: a visual language for guilt and regret, persisting through centuries. This image captures the primal, psychological drama of choice, played out in symbols that continue to resonate within our collective memory.