Geef ons vandaag het brood dat wij nodig hebben before 1646

Christoffel van Sichem II created this woodcut print, titled 'Give us this day our daily bread', sometime in the first half of the 17th century. The image depicts a sermon taking place inside a church, with a preacher addressing a crowd of men, women, and children. Immediately, one notices how Sichem’s composition directs our attention towards the performance of religious authority. The elevated position of the preacher is reinforced by the inclusion of the cross directly behind him. But notice also the figure climbing the pulpit stairs – is he helping the preacher, or hindering him? This was a period marked by the rise of Protestantism in the Netherlands, a movement that questioned existing religious institutions and called for greater individual piety. Art historians can consult period pamphlets, sermons, and other printed matter to learn more about the complex relationship between religious belief, social practice, and the visual arts during this time. By placing the artwork in its proper context, we are better able to understand its enduring cultural significance.