Heilige Antonius van Padua en zijn visioen van het Christuskind 1634 - 1693

Jonas Umbach created this print, ‘Heilige Antonius van Padua en zijn visioen van het Christuskind’, around the mid-17th century. The composition is strikingly divided. On the left, a structured architectural setting contrasts sharply with the swirling, ethereal vision on the right. This interplay of earthly stability and divine intervention immediately captures our attention. Umbach’s use of line is crucial here. Notice how the fine, dense hatching on the saint and architectural elements gives way to a looser, more expressive rendering of the clouds and cherubic figures. The artist uses these formal devices to differentiate between the tangible and the spiritual. The beams of light, rendered as stark lines, pierce the composition, acting as a visual bridge between these realms. The print invites us to contemplate the nature of faith and the boundaries between the visible and invisible. Umbach's mastery of engraving techniques creates a dynamic tension that transcends mere religious iconography.