Engel met de rietstengel, de haan en de doornenkroon 1580 - 1600

Editor: We’re looking at Johann Sadeler’s “Angel with Reed Staff, Rooster, and Crown of Thorns” from around 1580-1600. It's an engraving, and the detail is really striking given the medium. I'm drawn to the angel's expression; there’s a real sense of anguish. What symbols do you see operating in this image? Curator: Indeed, the expressiveness is key. What jumps out to me is the potent combination of symbols alluding to Christ’s Passion. The reed staff, the crown of thorns… these are direct references to His suffering. But then, consider the rooster. What cultural memory does that image evoke? Editor: The rooster… Wasn’t that connected to Peter’s denial of Christ? Curator: Precisely. The rooster's crowing marked Peter's betrayal, a moment of intense human fallibility in the face of divine events. Its inclusion speaks to themes of regret, repentance, and the human capacity for both great faith and disappointing weakness. The angel acts as witness, holding the instrument of Christ's torture. It makes me wonder, what emotions would this image invoke for viewers in the late 16th century? Editor: So, it’s a meditation on Christ’s suffering and the complex emotions surrounding that event, using symbols that were deeply ingrained in the cultural consciousness. It is about cultural memory embedded in objects. Curator: Exactly. It's about the weight of history and faith, rendered visible through carefully chosen symbols. Consider how the artist uses light and shadow to further emphasize the emotionality. Does this connection between object and cultural memory shift your view? Editor: Definitely. I was focused on the immediate emotion, but now I see how much deeper the image resonates with shared cultural knowledge. Thanks! Curator: It was my pleasure!