Petrus loopt over het water 1535 - 1587

This print, "Petrus loopt over het water," was created by Giovanni Battista Fontana in the late 16th century, a period marked by significant religious and social upheaval in Europe. Fontana captures a biblical scene where Peter walks on water towards Jesus, set against a meticulously rendered landscape. During the Counter-Reformation, images like this served to reinforce religious teachings, but they also speak to the power dynamics of faith and doubt. Peter’s tentative step embodies the precariousness of belief in a world questioning religious authority. The vast landscape dwarfs the figures, emphasizing the immense power of nature and the smallness of humanity within it. Consider the emotional weight of this scene: Peter's fear and faith, the desperation to believe in something beyond the tangible. Fontana invites us to reflect on our own moments of doubt and the courage it takes to step into the unknown.