Visioen van Petrus 1646 - 1658

Curator: So, here we have "Vision of Saint Peter," an engraving executed by Jeremias Falck sometime between 1646 and 1658. Editor: Woah. The swirling animals in the sky—a dog, is that a cow? It looks like a heavenly zoo just exploded in a puff of Baroque cloud. Dramatic. Curator: It is! Falck is rendering Peter’s vision from the Book of Acts, where God shows Peter that he shouldn't call anything impure that God has made clean. The sheet represents the vessel let down from heaven. Editor: So those animals... they're all the things Peter thought he couldn’t, like, spiritually eat? This artwork does such a great job of making it weird! Like, God’s lesson involved levitating livestock and baby angels holding up a tablecloth? It’s perfect. Curator: Indeed. The text pushes against Jewish dietary laws and the inclusion of Gentiles within the early church. This particular engraving operates within a historical and theological context related to conversion and acceptance of the other. Consider also Falck’s own religious affiliations and how the Protestant Reformation impacted such imagery in the 17th century. Editor: Makes me think about how much the 'rules' we impose on ourselves and others limit us. The dream logic of the image – the improbability of it – is kinda the point, right? If this work were made today, people would think the vision of st peter must be a satirical commentary on toxic dogmatism in today’s landscape. Curator: It’s definitely open to reinterpretation and aligns with the destabilization of social order through the disruption of categorization. The composition and narrative are inseparable from such contemporary applications. Editor: It still kinda freaks me out, though, the whole judgment-and-revelation thing. But it’s definitely thought-provoking. Makes you question your own... prejudices, maybe? And the etching itself, that technique with the crisp, dark lines against the creamy paper really emphasizes the gravity and starkness of the moment. Curator: Absolutely. The texture from the engraving and the strategic use of shading add an intensity, reflecting not just the vision's significance but its unsettling nature as well. Editor: Well, I won’t be looking at pot roast the same way for a while. Curator: I suppose Jeremias Falck would be pleased.