Heilige Johannes van Diolcus after 1636

This engraving of Saint John of Doulkon was made in the Netherlands by Frederick Bloemaert in the 17th century. We see the saint healing a woman by touching her forehead. This scene reflects the cultural importance of saints in the 17th century, who were seen as intermediaries between God and humans, capable of performing miracles and offering protection. The engraving itself would have circulated within a religious network and is a testament to the early modern print industry and its place within religious institutions. By the 17th century, the medium of print allowed for a far wider distribution of such images and for a greater democratization of religion, although the church hierarchy would undoubtedly have kept a close watch on the printers and publishers. Understanding this image means looking into the history of the Catholic Church, the visual codes of religious art, and the role of the printing press in spreading religious ideas in the Netherlands. The meaning of this work lies in the interplay between art, religion, and society.