Portaal van een Antwerpse kerk 1625 - 1649

This print of an Antwerp church portal was made by Jean de la Barre, sometime in the mid-17th century. It gives us insight into the social and religious history of the region at the time. The image is filled with visual codes and cultural references: angels offer crowns, framing a statue of Jesus above the entryway. Columns mark the portal, hinting at the grandeur and power of the Catholic Church in Antwerp during that period. The inscription dedicates the portico to two clergymen, highlighting the importance of religious figures in civic life. This was a time of Counter-Reformation, and the building program of the Catholic church was key in re-establishing its authority in the region after iconoclasm. To understand this artwork fully, we need to do more research into the history of Antwerp, the role of the Church in the 17th century, and the lives of the people who commissioned and created it. Understanding the social and institutional context helps us understand its meaning.