Christus door Petrus verloochend 1728

This engraving by Gilliam van der Gouwen captures a pivotal moment from the New Testament. It shows Peter denying Christ, made in the Netherlands, sometime before the artist's death in 1740. The image uses light and shadow to create a dramatic scene. Peter stands near a fire, as a woman holds a candle to his face, accusing him of being a follower of Jesus. Behind them are onlookers, who look down upon the scene. In van der Gouwen's time, the Dutch Republic was a Protestant society. Biblical stories were often used to teach moral lessons. Here, the artist highlights the human frailty of even the most devoted followers of Christ. To truly understand this work, we can look to religious texts and the history of the Dutch Republic. By understanding the visual codes and cultural references, we can gain insight into the social and religious values of the time. The study of such objects reminds us that the meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.