Johannes c. 1640 - 1680

Curator: Looking at this engraving from circa 1640-1680, housed right here in the Rijksmuseum, one can truly admire Cornelis van Caukercken’s technical skill in capturing the somber “Johannes.” Editor: It strikes me immediately how still the whole piece is. The dark shading in the background adds to a very serious, almost tragic mood. Curator: This particular print showcases an interesting dissemination of artistic styles. Based on an earlier painting by van Dyck, Caukercken reproduces van Dyck's original portrait but translated through the graphic language available to a baroque engraver. It raises interesting questions regarding access, reinterpretation, and popular piety during this era. Editor: Absolutely. And the chalice is a key element. Traditionally, the chalice appears in iconography to identify Saint John the Evangelist and symbolize the Eucharist and divine grace. Here it feels heavy with symbolic meaning, almost burdensome. Curator: Yes, the somber tone would fit interpretations that this refers to Saint John the Apostle who, as the legend states, was presented with a poisoned cup. Editor: Interesting. It's remarkable how the visual language around particular saints and figures evolve, especially within specific historical and political climates, reflecting ever changing understandings of divinity and mortality. Curator: Precisely. Religious prints like these circulated widely, offering a personal experience of the sacred, as opposed to only grand altarpieces commissioned by the church. These small scale engravings found a larger audience outside traditional elite patrons. Editor: This allows us insight into baroque anxieties, especially the relationship between humanity, belief, and inevitable suffering. Curator: Examining prints such as "Johannes", grants access to the past by letting us investigate the cultural and political stakes through their widespread distribution. Editor: I am reminded of how symbols persist to help reveal hidden layers of humanity’s emotional and spiritual memory.