Allegory of the church 1652 - 1711

This is Johann Jakob Thurneysen the Elder’s, Allegory of the Church, a 17th-century engraving on a sheet of paper. The composition guides our eye through a symbolic narrative, from the ethereal dove emitting radiant light at the top, down to the figures below. Notice how the artist uses contrasting light and shadow to give form and depth. There is a woman who represents the church, shielding children from the sword of a soldier. This juxtaposition invites us to consider the church's role as protector and the potential threat of external forces. Through a structuralist lens, the engraving operates as a system of signs, with each element—the dove, the woman, the children, the soldier—contributing to a larger allegorical meaning. What does it say about the structures of power, faith, and protection in the 17th century? The linear precision, typical of engravings, invites us to question the values and categories of its time. It reminds us that art offers not just aesthetic enjoyment but a dynamic engagement with cultural and philosophical discourse.