Saints Matthias, Simon, and Judas Thadeus, from the series The Apostles 1577

Curator: This image evokes a sense of somber contemplation, doesn't it? I feel like I'm eavesdropping on a really serious strategy meeting. Editor: Indeed. This engraving is Anthonie Blocklandt’s “Saints Matthias, Simon, and Judas Thadeus, from the series The Apostles,” dating back to 1577. It resides here with us at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I'm particularly intrigued by the semiotic interplay of tools and texts held by each figure within that perfect oval composition. Curator: Tools? Texts? They just look…worried. Except for that one guy with the saw, he just looks mad. I wonder what they're planning to build or, judging by their expressions, tear down? I love how that sharp saw contrasts the smooth flow of the robes— it’s jarring and beautiful! Editor: Well, as you observe, the visual emphasis underscores their identities. Simon's saw signifies his martyrdom – being sawn in half, alas – and the scrolls and books symbolize their theological scholarship and dissemination of knowledge. It's not just their emotions, but rather Blocklandt uses objects to narrate their stories and affirm their spiritual roles within the narrative. Curator: Oh, right, martyrdom is no laughing matter. But look at the composition – how their gazes meet! Or deliberately avoid each other? It feels like he captures a very human moment of tension between devotion and, perhaps, doubt? You know, even holy men must've had their off days, and Blocklandt hints at this fragility in each beautifully etched line. Editor: Yes, I agree the expressiveness captured by Blocklandt, although idealized, offers that peek into their humanity, beyond religious representation. Considering the historical context of religious upheaval in the late 16th century, this engraving subtly embodies a kind of humanist appeal to acknowledge internal conflicts that accompany faith, as well the devotion, rendered masterfully via chiaroscuro to convey depth and seriousness. Curator: Chiaroscuro...big word for saying it looks dark but amazing! It's those shadows and contrasts that let Blocklandt reveal a deeper humanity. A dialogue about unwavering faith etched forever in their faces, no matter the circumstances. Makes you think, right? Editor: Precisely. Blocklandt’s formal choices guide our emotional and intellectual response. They still offer ways of contemplating belief through visual structure and metaphor.