Roeping van Petrus en Andreas 1830

Karl Palzow's drawing, "Calling of Peter and Andrew," captures a pivotal moment in the Gospels through a tender, intimate lens. With its delicate lines and soft shading, the artwork encourages a close, almost reverent observation. The drawing depicts Jesus calling upon the fishermen Peter and Andrew to leave their nets and follow him. In this depiction, Palzow subverts traditional representations of biblical figures by emphasizing their humanity. The figures of Peter and Andrew are rendered with a ruggedness that speaks to their working-class backgrounds and the labor they performed. This contrasts starkly with the idealized, often ethereal portrayals that dominated religious art for centuries. What does it mean to see these iconic figures not as untouchable saints, but as men with weathered faces, burdened by the weight of their decision? Palzow's "Calling" invites us to reflect on the radical nature of Jesus's invitation, and to consider how the gospel might speak to the lived experiences of ordinary people.