Eikenhouten preekstoel in de Sint-Andrieskerk in Antwerpen, België, ontworpen door Jean-François van Geel en Jean-Baptiste van Hool before 1887

Editor: Here we have a sculpture: An oak pulpit from Saint Andrew’s Church in Antwerp, Belgium, dating from before 1887, created by Jean-François van Geel and Jean-Baptiste van Hool. The figures are dynamic, theatrical almost. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: The dynamism, as you call it, is quintessential Baroque. But look closer: see the careful integration of classical forms into the swirling composition. The drapery, the musculature – these echo ancient sculpture, yet charged with intense emotion. Consider what stories the church wished to communicate, and how sculpting from wood carries a unique resonance in that area of Europe. Editor: Stories, right. I see figures pulling a net filled with fish, below…are these symbols referencing stories from the Bible? Curator: Precisely. Observe how the artists have used specific iconographic language – the fisherman’s net, the postures of entreaty. Think about the historical context, what events, anxieties, or aspirations shaped the artists' and patrons' decisions to employ such direct, persuasive imagery. What stories would such images bring to mind for congregations throughout the year? Editor: So, this isn't just a beautiful object; it's visual storytelling meant to engage a specific community. Does the materiality – being carved from wood - enhance these associations? Curator: Undoubtedly. Wood speaks to earthly matters, to human endeavor, particularly potent for a maritime community dependent on ships and carpentry. The decision to carve these figures out of such a medium subtly yet firmly connects spiritual ideas with tangible realities. This fusion allows for layers of meaning that go beyond simple interpretation. The image literally rises out of it. What do you make of that compositional decision? Editor: It is hard not to feel its power rising towards heaven. I see that there are symbolic and functional reasons behind every single artistic choice! Thanks for opening my eyes to this symbolic language! Curator: My pleasure. By understanding this work we uncover what has remained relevant to this cultural identity across many generations.