The Calling of Peter and Andrew 1616 - 1617

Jacob Jordaens created 'The Calling of Peter and Andrew' using pen, brown ink and watercolour. The composition is dynamic; figures cluster along the shoreline, their bodies bent in motion, while boats on the left contrast with the solidity of figures to the right. Jordaens uses line and wash to create a sense of depth and drama. The sketchiness of the lines conveys energy and immediacy, while the wash adds tonal variation, particularly evident in the robes and the shading of the landscape, giving form to the figures and the scene. The positioning of Christ at the apex of a visual triangle draws our eye, framing him as the focal point. This arrangement can be interpreted through a structuralist lens, which suggests that the artwork is built upon a series of binary oppositions. The natural world and spiritual realm come together, highlighting the moment of divine intervention. This intersection destabilizes conventional expectations and emphasizes the transformative power of belief.