Hoofd van een kale oude man met baard, rechts naar boven kijkend (mogelijk H. Petrus) 1620 - 1664

This is Stefano della Bella’s etching of a head of an old man, possibly Saint Peter. It’s a small, intimate work, made during a time of religious and political upheaval in Europe. Consider how images like this functioned in the 17th century. The lines etched here capture not just a likeness, but a sense of character and history etched onto the face of an aging man. We see the weight of years in the furrowed brow and the set of his gaze upwards. Is this the gaze of faith, of hope, or perhaps resignation? Given the suggestion that this is Saint Peter, we might think about the role of religious figures in shaping cultural identities. Della Bella invites us to contemplate not just the saint, but also the very human qualities of age, wisdom, and the burdens of leadership. How does this image challenge or reinforce the traditional representation of religious figures?