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

Editor: We're looking at a print of the "Key of Saint Peter from the Holy Cross Church in Liège, Belgium," dating from before 1865. It's currently held at the Rijksmuseum. The print depicts a very ornate key; it seems so much more than just a functional object. What’s your interpretation of this piece? Curator: It's fascinating to consider this print as an artifact itself, documenting another artifact. Keys, particularly those of St. Peter, hold tremendous symbolic power. In the context of the medieval period and religious institutions, the key represents not just access to a physical space, but spiritual authority. It visually embodies the Church's claim to the 'keys to the kingdom of heaven,' derived directly from Saint Peter. Editor: That makes sense. It really puts it into a historical perspective. Curator: Exactly. It's also worthwhile to think about how the image functions within the politics of imagery. Why create this image? Who was the intended audience? Was it meant to disseminate the importance and value, of Saint Peter through an image? And how does displaying this print contribute to our understanding of power dynamics? Editor: So, it’s less about the key itself and more about the message it's meant to convey within a historical context? Curator: Precisely! Consider how this object would be viewed differently by clergy, nobility, and commoners. Its physical display, as well as representation via print, serves as a reminder of institutional authority and spiritual dominion. Editor: Wow, that adds layers I hadn't considered. Thanks for clarifying the sociopolitical power of this "key"! Curator: My pleasure! Looking at art from this perspective broadens our view to art's public role throughout history.