Moses and the Burning Bush (recto) and The Infant Moses Put into the River (verso) from Neue künstliche Figuren biblischer Historien, plate 55 from Woodcuts from Books of the XVI Century

This woodcut presents two pivotal moments from the story of Moses, with the recto depicting "Moses and the Burning Bush" and the verso showing "The Infant Moses Put into the River." On the front, a dramatic scene unfolds as Moses, having removed his sandals, kneels before a tree engulfed in flames. The burning bush, a divine manifestation, glows intensely against the darker foliage, its light casting sharp contrasts on Moses's figure and the surrounding landscape. The artist uses the starkness of the woodcut medium to emphasize the miraculous event, with strong lines defining the forms and conveying a sense of awe. The reverse side offers a poignant contrast, illustrating the moment Moses's mother places him in a basket on the Nile, a desperate act to save him from Pharaoh's decree. Together, these images encapsulate the beginning of Moses's extraordinary journey, from his miraculous survival as an infant to his divine calling as an adult.