Buste van Johannes de Evangelist, in ovaal 1588 - 1602

Jacob Matham created this oval-shaped print of John the Evangelist sometime between 1586 and 1631. The image is framed by an inscription in Latin, a language that, during Matham’s time, connected the intellectual and clerical elite. Matham was a Dutch engraver and publisher, working during the Counter-Reformation, a period defined by the Catholic Church’s response to the rise of Protestantism. Depictions of saints were a means of reaffirming Catholic doctrine, yet Matham's engraving transcends mere religious iconography; the soft lines of John’s face, and the gentle gaze, evoke a sense of intimacy and introspection. The halo signifies the saint's divine connection, but the humanity in his eyes tells a more complex story. The artwork invites us to reflect on the intersections of faith, identity, and artistic expression during a period of profound religious and social change. It reminds us of the enduring power of images to shape our understanding of ourselves.