Johannes de Evangelist c. 1555 - 1565

This engraving of John the Evangelist is currently held at the Rijksmuseum. The anonymous artist has masterfully employed line and form to create an almost tactile sense of depth and texture. The subject, John the Evangelist, stands confidently, his draped robe rendered with meticulous detail. A chalice in his hand, with a serpent rising from within, immediately invites semiotic interpretation. Is the snake a symbol of evil, or a sign of healing and transformation? The use of chiaroscuro creates a dramatic contrast, highlighting the figure against a dark, undefined background. The composition, while seemingly straightforward, subtly destabilizes conventional religious iconography. The figure's direct gaze confronts the viewer, challenging us to reconsider traditional interpretations. This print, through its formal elements, engages with deeper questions of faith, representation, and the power of symbolic language.