Sleutel van de heilige Petrus uit de Heilige Kruiskerk in Luik, België before 1865

This print shows a key of Saint Peter from the church of the Holy Cross in Liège, Belgium. The stark monochromatic presentation enhances our focus on the key’s intricate design, emphasizing its symbolic weight. Structurally, the key is divided into three distinct sections: the loop, the cage-like sphere at the top, and the bit below. The arrangement is not merely decorative but a semiotic system of signs. The loop suggests continuity, the sphere evokes enclosure and mystery, and the bit presents a complex pattern. These elements combined could symbolize entry into sacred knowledge or divine secrets. The key challenges fixed meanings; rather than simply unlocking a physical door, it suggests unlocking spiritual understanding or access to divine power. The design destabilizes a purely functional object, transforming it into a powerful emblem.