Christus wast de voeten van de discipelen 1648 - 1657

Editor: So, here we have Christoffel van Sichem II's engraving, "Christus wast de voeten van de discipelen," created sometime between 1648 and 1657. It’s quite a busy composition. I'm struck by how the artist used all these lines, almost like he’s sketching directly onto the metal. What do you see in this print? Curator: Oh, the hatching and cross-hatching is a real rabbit hole, isn’t it? For me, this image shimmers with the weight of tradition. Sichem is consciously placing himself in a lineage of printmakers interpreting biblical narratives. Look at the stage he sets; the architectural details and the way he bunches the figures creates a kind of compressed theatrical space. He wants to evoke emotion and moral reflection but without the bombast of some Baroque painting. What do you make of Christ's gesture of washing the feet? Editor: It definitely stands out because he's kneeling, humble and serving. It's quite the contrast with how other religious figures were typically depicted, right? Curator: Exactly! The power of the scene lies in that inversion. It’s a lesson in humility. Sichem makes the ordinary sacred through close observation. Have you noticed the varied expressions on the disciples’ faces? Some are contemplative, others almost repulsed. Each reflects a different facet of understanding and acceptance. It’s like looking into a mirror of human emotions. Editor: I didn't really catch the range of emotions before. Now, it makes it so much more powerful! Curator: Prints like these were the newspapers of their time, spreading ideas and artistic styles far and wide. It’s amazing to think this little piece of paper carried such cultural significance, isn't it? It is always a surprise for me, finding universes inside confined spaces, how about you? Editor: I'll definitely remember this image, now! The level of thought in something so small!