Heilige Thomas in de hemel 1671 - 1716

This is an anonymous early 18th-century print depicting Saint Thomas in Heaven. Consider the power of the church at the time and its influence on the lives of ordinary people. This print presents us with a vision of salvation; Saint Thomas stands serene, holding a spear, seemingly mediating between the earthly and divine realms. He stands upon a cloud filled with people of different ages and backgrounds, suggesting the universal reach of faith. Above him, a host of angels awaits, bathed in heavenly light. Heaven in such depictions was often rendered as a place of serene rest and reward, a counterpoint to the hardships of earthly existence. The emotional resonance of such images lay in their promise of solace and eternal belonging, reflecting a deep-seated longing for meaning and justice in a world often devoid of both. How does this image resonate with contemporary notions of spirituality?