Petrus en de andere apostelen worden door een engel bevrijd uit de gevangenis before 1646

Christoffel van Sichem created this woodcut print, "Petrus en de andere apostelen worden door een engel bevrijd uit de gevangenis," at an unknown date. The composition, dominated by the stark contrast of black lines on a light background, immediately draws us into a world of dramatic tension and divine intervention. Van Sichem masterfully uses line to create depth and texture, particularly in the architectural elements of the prison. The parallel hatching suggests the cold, hard materiality of stone. Notice how the linear perspective guides our eyes through the scene, from the apostles emerging from the prison door to the angel standing amidst the sleeping guards. This structured layout isn't just about aesthetics; it serves a narrative purpose. The rigid lines of the prison contrast sharply with the flowing robes and wings of the angel, emphasizing the divine disruption of earthly order. The fallen guards, sprawled across the steps, further underscore this subversion, suggesting a challenge to fixed power structures. The print thus functions as a visual codex, inviting us to decode its symbolic arrangement and contemplate its challenge to established authority.