Heiligen 1866 - 1902

Franciscus Antonius Beersmans created this print titled "Heiligen". The work presents a collection of sixteen distinct, uniformly framed portraits arranged in a grid. Each portrait depicts a religious figure, identified by inscriptions beneath their images. Beersmans employs a restricted color palette, primarily using green, red, and yellow to delineate each figure and their respective symbolic accoutrements. A structural analysis reveals the repetition of oval-shaped halos and the consistent ornamental frames, which serve to unify the diverse representations of the saints. The visual organization suggests an underlying semiotic system, where each color and object functions as a signifier. The interplay between these signs invites us to explore the values and categories inherent in religious iconography, challenging fixed interpretations.