Petrus geneest de zieken met zijn schaduw 1610 - 1652

Pieter Fransz. de Grebber created this drawing, "Petrus geneest de zieken met zijn schaduw," using graphite. The composition is dominated by a crowd of figures rendered with varying degrees of detail and line. The scene's structure invites a reading rooted in semiotics. Peter, positioned centrally, is depicted with a purposeful stride. His shadow, the vector of divine healing, acts as a signifier, bridging the earthly and the divine. The surrounding figures, each rendered with distinct expressions, become visual codes representing faith, suffering, and hope. De Grebber uses the interplay of light and shadow not merely as a visual effect but as a structured language, encoding the narrative's theological underpinnings. The lack of precise detail in the background serves to further emphasize the narrative's core, where the sign of Peter’s shadow becomes a focal point for interpreting themes of power and deliverance.