De ongelovige Thomas

About this artwork

hoogte 204 mm x breedte 267 mm

Art Historical Context

**De Ongelovige Thomas (The Doubting Thomas)** *Samuel van Hoogstraten, c. 1648–1649, Pen, 204 × 267 mm* Samuel van Hoogstraten's *De Ongelovige Thomas captures a pivotal biblical moment from the Gospel of John, where the apostle Thomas, skeptical of Christ's resurrection, demands to touch the wounds as proof of faith. Created around 1648–1649 during the Dutch Golden Age, this pen drawing reflects the era's deep engagement with religious themes, blending spiritual narrative with virtuoso draftsmanship. Hoogstraten, a versatile artist and former pupil of Rembrandt, was renowned for his innovative approaches to perspective and illusionism, skills honed in Leiden and Amsterdam workshops. Executed in pen on a modest scale—roughly the size of a modern postcard—this work showcases the precision of 17th-century Dutch drawing techniques. The linear medium allowed for intricate shading and expressive lines, ideal for studies that could inform paintings or stand alone as collector's items. Hoogstraten's style echoes Rembrandt's dramatic tenebrism while foreshadowing his later experiments in trompe-l'œil, making this a window into his evolving mastery. For visitors, this intimate sketch humanizes doubt and belief, a timeless tension rendered with elegant economy. It invites closer inspection, revealing how Golden Age artists elevated everyday faith into profound visual poetry.

About the Artist

Samuel van Hoogstraten · 1627–1678

Studied under his father, Dirck, and under Rembrandt. Was noted as an artist to the emperor in Vienna and as the head of an academy in Dordrecht. Comment on works: History; Portraits; Genre; Landscapes; Still life; Mythology; Religious