Blad met 24 heiligen in vier rijen 1740 - 1750

This is a print called ‘Sheet with 24 Saints in Four Rows’ by Simon Haichele. The organisation of the saints into a strict grid, with the economical use of line and colour, creates an immediate impression of order and repetition. Each saint is framed by a decorative border, yet the variations in their poses and attributes disrupt any sense of rigid uniformity. The limited palette of earthy browns and muted purples adds to the solemnity, while splashes of orange create points of emphasis. Looking closely, you can see the print's structuralist elements. The arrangement of the saints in rows and columns can be seen as a visual language, where each figure is a signifier within a larger system of meaning. The halo above each saint's head, for example, signifies holiness, a visual code easily read by the viewer. This work challenges fixed notions of individuality, inviting contemplation on the shared values and ideals represented by these figures. The grid structure itself, with its implied infinite extension, suggests that the concept of sanctity extends beyond the confines of the image. Note how the print’s formal composition and the strategic repetition of elements invite contemplation on the very nature of representation and meaning.