Evangelist Mattheüs 1611 - 1647

Michel van Lochom created this print of the Evangelist Matthew around the mid-17th century. The composition is immediately striking: within an oval wreath of flowers, Matthew is shown writing, guided by an angel. The image's stark contrast, achieved through the linear precision of engraving, creates a powerful visual dynamic. Light and shadow model the figures, emphasizing the texture of Matthew's beard and robes. The arrangement draws our eye to the interplay between the earthly and the divine. Matthew, grounded and corporeal, contrasts with the ethereal angel. This contrast serves to highlight the role of divine inspiration in artistic creation. The wreath encircling the scene acts as a frame, a boundary between the sacred act of writing and the wider world, suggesting that art is a process of mediation between the human and the transcendent.