Bekering van Paulus before 1646

Christoffel van Sichem II created this woodcut, titled "Conversion of Paul," sometime before his death in 1658. The composition is dominated by a dense crowd of figures on horseback and foot, arranged in a dynamic, almost chaotic manner. The sharp, contrasting lines of the woodcut technique create a sense of drama, further emphasized by the divine light breaking through the upper left, diagonally intersecting the scene. Consider how Sichem employs line and form to convey the spiritual disruption of Paul's conversion. The rigid, almost militaristic order of the procession is challenged by the disruptive force of the light, suggesting a clash between earthly authority and divine intervention. The relatively small scale of the print invites an intimate, intense observation, compelling viewers to grapple with the artwork's complex interplay of power, faith, and revelation. This work serves as a potent reminder that art is continually re-evaluated through changing cultural lenses.