Fotoreproductie van een prent naar een karton voor een tapijt door Rafaël, voorstellend Petrus en Johannes die een verlamde man genezen bij de tempelpoort before 1861

Gustav Schauer created this photogravure, sometime in the 19th century, of a drawing after a tapestry cartoon by Raphael, depicting Peter and John healing a lame man. The print is divided into three horizontal registers, each presenting a variation on the biblical scene. The subdued monochromatic palette gives the work a somber, reflective mood, enhancing the scene's solemnity. What's striking is the composition. Each register acts as a self-contained frame, yet the repetition invites comparison and contrast. The lines are soft, almost blurred, creating a sense of movement and fluidity. Schauer plays with light and shadow to emphasize certain figures and gestures, guiding the viewer's eye through the narrative. The composition destabilizes the conventional representation of religious narratives, challenging the viewer to see beyond the literal depiction and to consider the structural elements that construct meaning. The arrangement invites us to engage with the semiotic play of gestures, poses, and spatial relations. This artwork operates within a system of representation that calls into question any singular, fixed interpretation.