Heilige Bartholomeus 1639 - 1670

Petrus Clouwet created this engraving of Saint Bartholomew in the 17th century. The print depicts the saint with a halo, draped in classical robes, holding a book and a flaying knife. This image creates meaning through visual codes and historical associations that would have been easily recognizable to its contemporary audience in the Netherlands. Bartholomew is identified by the flaying knife, which is a reference to his martyrdom. He holds a book referencing his missionary work. In post-reformation Europe, the Catholic church used imagery to reassert its authority. Prints such as these were important in that project, which saw the church making use of printmaking as the main vehicle for disseminating propaganda. As art historians, we have a wealth of resources that help us understand art in its historical context: letters, inventories, and publications can show us how artworks were understood by their contemporary audiences. Understanding the social and institutional contexts helps us understand the power of art.