Mozes en de koperen slang c. 1590 - 1637

Egbert van Panderen created this engraving, titled "Moses and the Copper Serpent," sometime in the early 17th century. During this period, the Dutch Republic was experiencing a cultural and economic boom known as the Golden Age. Here, we see Moses, accompanied by Aaron, standing next to a pole with a serpent wrapped around it, while people writhe in agony on the ground. This depicts a scene from the Bible where God sends venomous snakes to punish the Israelites. Moses then erects a bronze serpent on a pole, and anyone who looks at it is healed. Van Panderen's decision to depict this scene reflects the religious and moral concerns of his time. Yet, it also taps into something deeply human: our vulnerability and desperate search for healing and redemption. The intense suffering of the figures evokes a visceral emotional response, highlighting the intersection of faith, pain, and hope. How might this image speak to contemporary issues of public health and healing in times of crisis?