Storm op het Meer van Galilea 1635 - 1694

Dirck de Bray created this woodcut titled "Storm on the Sea of Galilee" in the Netherlands sometime in the latter half of the 17th century. It depicts a scene from the New Testament, in which Jesus calms a storm that threatens to capsize a boat carrying his disciples. The image creates meaning through its dramatic depiction of the storm. The jagged lines and swirling patterns evoke a sense of chaos and danger. In the 17th-century Dutch Republic, the sea was a powerful force that could bring both prosperity and destruction. This small print taps into that tension. The Dutch Reformed Church was the dominant religious institution. Biblical stories were common. The scene would have reminded viewers of the power of God. The image's small size suggests that it was intended for private devotion rather than public display. As art historians, we can better understand the work by researching the social and religious context in which it was made. Ultimately, art's meaning is always contingent on its historical context.