Christus geneest de zieken / de Bergrede 1700

Editor: This is a fascinating engraving from 1700, titled "Christus geneest de zieken / de Bergrede" by Cornelis Huyberts. It’s comprised of two distinct scenes in one print, a split composition that almost feels like two sides of the same coin. It definitely evokes a feeling of solemnity and quiet awe, but also human struggle. What captures your attention when you look at this piece? Curator: Ah, yes, Huyberts, stitching together narratives like threads of a story! The pairing of scenes – Christ healing and delivering the Sermon on the Mount – feels deliberately chosen, doesn’t it? One is action, direct intervention; the other, stillness and profound instruction. I love the way the architecture in the upper scene gives way to the natural world in the lower – from the human-made space of the city, to the implied sanctuary of the outdoors. Notice how light becomes a character, illuminating the divine presence amidst the suffering and then softly bathing the attentive crowd in the sermon. And tell me, what emotional notes do those Baroque gestures strike within you? Editor: I definitely see that shift from the formal architecture to the organic forms in nature. I suppose the gestures – all that dramatic reaching and imploring – strike me as kind of operatic? The drama feels heightened, staged almost. But it does amplify the emotional impact, even now, centuries later. Curator: Precisely! This theatricality is, in many ways, the point. It speaks to the Baroque’s aim to inspire a deeply emotional, personal relationship with the divine – or, dare I say, with art itself! Looking at Huyberts' composition, it seems he asks us: where do you find your own miracle, in healing, or in words? Editor: That's a great point, it definitely makes me think about where I seek inspiration. Thanks for untangling this piece for me! Curator: The pleasure’s all mine. And perhaps next time, we can delve deeper into Huyberts' technique, spotting how he uses those finely etched lines to conjure not just images, but feelings. Until then, let the opera of faith resound!