Reproductie van De roeping van Mattheus door Otto van Veen before 1877

This photogravure print from an unknown date by Joseph Maes reproduces Otto van Veen’s "The Calling of Matthew," presenting a visually subdued yet powerfully composed scene. The composition is structured around a play of light and shadow, characteristic of the Baroque style, which draws our eyes to the central figures of Christ and Matthew. The use of chiaroscuro not only dramatizes the moment of Matthew’s calling but also serves to delineate the moral and psychological space between the divine and the mundane. Note how the artist uses the formal elements of line and form to create a dynamic interplay between the figures. This recalls structuralist interpretations that view art as a system of signs. The very texture of the print, achieved through photogravure, lends a tactile quality to the scene, inviting us to engage with the materiality of the artwork. It serves as a reminder of art’s capacity to challenge fixed meanings and to invite ongoing interpretation.