Christus geeft de sleutels van de hemel aan Petrus 1629

Christoffel van Sichem II created this woodcut print, "Christus geeft de sleutels van de hemel aan Petrus," sometime between the late 16th and mid-17th century. During this period, religious imagery was used to reinforce doctrine and inspire devotion. Here, Christ bestows the keys to heaven upon Peter, an event loaded with theological significance. It represents the Catholic Church's claim to authority through Peter, the first Pope. But the image also operates on a human scale. Look at the humble posture of Peter, kneeling before Christ, crook in hand, a shepherd among sheep. This conveys a sense of pastoral care. The division of earthly and heavenly realms is seen in the angels above vs. the mundane sheep below. Consider how the print invites viewers to align themselves within this spiritual narrative, and to reflect on their own place in the divine order.