Apostel Petrus met sleutels 1591 - 1629

Editor: So here we have, "Apostel Petrus met sleutels," Apostle Peter with keys, from sometime between 1591 and 1629, attributed to Johan Barra. It's an engraving, so it’s all lines and shading, creating this, well, somewhat intense image of St. Peter. He seems very determined, holding these huge keys! What do you see in this piece? Curator: Ah, yes, St. Peter! And you're right, it does have a certain...gravitas, shall we say? The Baroque period loved this kind of drama. Look at how Barra uses line to create such deep shadows. Almost feels like you could reach out and touch that billowing cloak. And those keys...they aren’t just keys. What do keys symbolize? What does the gate do? What does the jail lock up? Editor: Power, maybe? Or authority? I mean, Peter's traditionally seen as the first Pope. Curator: Precisely! And look closer—the book. Knowledge? Faith? Law? Also, there is an inscription beneath the figure in Latin: Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem, creatorem coeli et terrae...which translates as: I believe in God, the almighty Father, creator of heaven and earth... I find it compelling how printmaking allowed for wider distribution of these iconic religious figures, bringing the sacred into everyday life. Editor: That's fascinating, I didn’t know this was intended for broader circulation. Thinking about it now, I can better appreciate how art has, over the centuries, impacted popular knowledge and spirituality. It certainly changes how I view the work itself! Curator: Indeed! It reminds us that art isn't just about aesthetics, it's also about communication, about sharing beliefs and stories across time and space, which helps us to think differently and understand better, like a giant, complex lock that our curiosity picks open for us.