Portret van de heilige Johannes van het Kruis 1670 - 1737

Andreas Matthäus Wolfgang created this print, "Portret van de heilige Johannes van het Kruis" using engraving. The composition immediately draws the eye to the figure of Saint John, bathed in a soft, ethereal light that dramatically contrasts with the darker, more subdued background. Notice how Wolfgang uses line to create a rich texture, particularly in the folds of the saint's habit and the swirling clouds. This engraving technique allows Wolfgang to model form and imbue it with a sense of depth. The semiotic elements here are quite compelling. The dove, a symbol of the Holy Spirit, is depicted as a beam entering Saint John's ear, suggesting divine inspiration. Emerging from the Saint's mouth is a scroll with the inscription "proba me domine," meaning "prove me, Lord," challenging the notion of fixed religious doctrine, suggesting a more personal, direct engagement with divinity. The artist invites us to consider how the visible world interacts with the divine. Wolfgang underscores the complexities of faith and representation, rather than offering simple, didactic imagery.