Saint Paul and Saint Peter c. 1545

Editor: This is "Saint Paul and Saint Peter," an engraving by René Boyvin from around 1545. The starkness of the figures, created simply through line work on paper, lends a severity and gravitas that feels really fitting considering who they are. What stands out to you? Curator: The arrangement is powerful precisely because of how it merges symbolic imagery. Consider the Keys of Heaven held by Saint Peter. They aren’t just keys, are they? They signify Peter's authority, his role as the gatekeeper. The open doorway hovering above the figures is visually echoed by those keys, suggesting access to salvation and knowledge. Do you see a relationship between the two? Editor: Absolutely. The keys unlock the door. It’s such a direct and effective symbol. And then Paul is often shown with a sword…but that doesn’t seem to be present here. Curator: He’s presented alongside a sword here, and the iconography tells a potent story. Saint Paul is associated with a sword—less an instrument of literal violence and more of spiritual war. That visual element, juxtaposed against Saint Peter's keys, indicates complementary paths: one of divine law and judgement, the other through conviction and evangelism. Editor: It’s fascinating to see how even simple line work can convey so much history and meaning. I had assumed line work couldn't evoke this much narrative depth. Curator: It's precisely the perceived "simplicity" that’s deceiving. Boyvin’s mastery lay in embedding these loaded symbols within an accessible visual framework. It’s about triggering that cultural memory within us all, whether consciously or not. Editor: This engraving has given me a lot to think about. I will definitely see line art in a new light. Thanks so much! Curator: My pleasure. The deeper you look, the more profound connections you discover.