Visioen van Johannes de Evangelist met tronende God en de vierentwintig oudsten 1546

This woodcut of "The Vision of John the Evangelist" was made in 1546 by the German artist Matthias Gerung. It depicts a scene from the Book of Revelation, with John kneeling before God and twenty-four elders in heaven. Gerung made this image during a period of religious upheaval in Europe when the Catholic Church's authority was under challenge. The imagery creates meaning through well-known biblical and cultural references. God is enthroned in Heaven, surrounded by angels, saints, and elders, and the Evangelist John kneels in prayer. By depicting God in heaven, Gerung invokes established religious imagery and reaffirms traditional social and religious hierarchies. The inclusion of this scene suggests an endorsement of these structures during a time of religious reform. As historians, our interpretation of such an image involves exploring the social and institutional contexts of its creation. By examining religious debates, Gerung's other artworks, and the role of patronage in the production of art, we gain a deeper understanding of its social and cultural significance.