Petrus probeert over het water te lopen naar Christus 1590 - 1622

Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert made this small engraving, "Peter attempts to walk on the water to Christ," without a specific date. It resides here, in the Rijksmuseum. Bolswert’s depiction of the biblical episode invites us to consider the visual codes it employs and their place in the religious culture of the time. Produced in the Netherlands, the print reflects the deeply ingrained Protestant values of the Dutch Republic. The narrative, drawn from the Gospel of Matthew, portrays the apostle Peter's faltering faith as he attempts to walk on water towards Jesus. The institutional and cultural context is vital here. During the 17th century, the Dutch Republic was undergoing immense social and economic change. This print subtly reinforces the importance of unwavering faith, possibly reflecting anxieties amidst the changing times. To understand Bolswert's print fully, scholars can draw on a range of resources, including religious texts, social histories of the Dutch Republic, and studies of print culture. It is in this way that we can consider the social conditions that shape artistic production.