Martelaarschap van Johannes 1610 - 1647

This print, "Martyrdom of John", is an anonymous work depicting the martyrdom of St. John, showcasing a cauldron scene surrounded by smaller vignettes of his life. Here, the cauldron becomes a potent symbol. We see a clear link to ancient rituals, where cauldrons were associated with transformation and rebirth. One may think of the Gundestrup cauldron, a vessel for Celtic rituals, or the witch’s cauldron from Macbeth. In those examples, the cauldron represents a liminal space where change is brewed, life and death dance together. In this martyrdom scene, the cauldron is also associated with torture and the death of Saint John, but also the way in which he miraculously survived. This is an emotional paradox, a visual knot of pain and salvation. The image engages us not merely as observers but as participants in a drama that has played out across centuries. The cauldron simmers not just with boiling oil, but with the collective memory of human suffering and resilience.