A detailed sixteenth-century etching by Gerard de Jode depicting the biblical scene of an angel binding Satan.

This print by Gerard de Jode depicts a scene from the Book of Revelation, specifically the binding of Satan by an angel. The composition is contained within a circular frame, a common format for sixteenth-century print series intended for devotional or educational use. The angel stands with a key in one hand and a chain in the other, preparing to restrain the beast, who is shown in a state of agitation amidst flames. The background includes a distant fortified city, providing a sense of scale and narrative context to the supernatural event.

De Jode, a prominent cartographer and print publisher based in Antwerp, utilised the techniques of etching and engraving to achieve a high degree of detail. The lines are precise, allowing for the rendering of the angel's drapery and the textured musculature of the beast. The Latin inscription below the image provides a theological commentary on the scene, referencing the thousand-year period of confinement mentioned in the text. This work reflects the period's interest in apocalyptic imagery and the use of print media to disseminate complex biblical narratives to a wider audience.

The print demonstrates the technical proficiency of the Antwerp school during the late sixteenth century. The contrast between the calm, upright posture of the angel and the contorted, dynamic form of the beast creates a clear visual hierarchy. The inclusion of the circular border, decorated with simple geometric motifs in the corners, frames the action effectively. This piece is a representative example of the graphic arts produced in the Netherlands during a period of significant religious and political change, where such prints functioned as both artistic objects and tools for moral instruction.