St. Jerome (Schr. 1554a) 15th century

This is an anonymous woodcut of St. Jerome, created around 1480. The composition presents us with an intimate scene, framed within bold, graphic lines. Notice how the artist used color sparingly, grounding the scene with touches of green, which emphasizes the linearity of the image and directs our attention to the interaction between the saint and the lion. The architectural elements and the open book act as semiotic markers, signifying knowledge and contemplation. The lion, a traditional attribute of St. Jerome, is rendered with a surprising gentleness. The contrast between the linear precision of the woodcut and the organic forms of the figures introduces a tension, a visual dialogue that destabilizes traditional representations of religious iconography. This work challenges the viewer to reconsider established meanings and engage with new ways of seeing the familiar.