De zondvloed

About this artwork

De zondvloed overstroomt het land. Mensen en dieren worden verzwolgen door het water. Een paar mannen probeert zich te redden door in een boom te klimmen. Rechtsachter de ark die de opvarenden redt voor de zondvloed.

Art Historical Context

Cornelis Cort's *De zondvloed* (The Flood), an engraving from around 1600-1652 measuring 202 × 250 mm, vividly captures the biblical catastrophe from Genesis. This dramatic scene depicts the deluge overwhelming the land, with desperate humans and animals engulfed by raging waters. A group of men clings to a tree in a futile bid for survival, while in the distant right background, Noah's ark offers divine salvation to the righteous, symbolizing themes of judgment, repentance, and redemption central to Judeo-Christian tradition. As a master engraver of the Dutch Golden Age, Cort exemplifies the era's technical prowess in printmaking. Engraving, an intaglio technique where lines are incised into a metal plate and inked under pressure, allowed for intricate details and mass reproduction—ideal for spreading religious narratives to a wide audience. The fine lines and contrasts here heighten the chaos and peril, drawing viewers into the moral drama. This work reflects the 17th-century fascination with biblical history in Northern European art, blending terror with hope to remind visitors of humanity's vulnerability and faith's triumph. A poignant piece for contemplating timeless stories through masterful craft.

About the Artist

Cornelis Cort · 1533–1578

Comment on works: copper engraver; engraver; etcher