John (from series of the four evangelists) 16th-17th century

Editor: Here we have Crispijn de Passe’s engraving, "John," from his series of the four evangelists. It's quite small, but incredibly detailed. The saint looks so pensive. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The image is interesting in its representation of St. John with his symbolic eagle. In de Passe's time, prints circulated widely, shaping religious and political views. How might this image have functioned in that context? Editor: I hadn't thought about that! Maybe it reinforced the authority of the Church? Or was it more personal, for private devotion? Curator: It could be both. Prints allowed for wider access to religious imagery, impacting social behavior and individual spirituality. I wonder what its role was in shaping religious identity. Editor: That makes me see it differently, not just as a picture, but as a powerful tool of communication. Curator: Exactly! It’s a window into the complex interplay between art, religion, and society.