Heilige Johannes Chrysostomus 1665

Francois de Poilly created this engraving of Saint John Chrysostom, and it now resides in the Rijksmuseum. Chrysostom, adorned with a cross on his robe, sits amidst scholarly texts, his gaze lifted towards divine inspiration. The cross, a symbol central to Christian iconography, marks him as a figure of profound spiritual significance. Here, it is a clear symbol of sacrifice and redemption, its image deeply embedded in the collective consciousness of the West. Yet, this very symbol finds echoes in earlier forms, such as the ankh of ancient Egypt, symbolizing life and immortality. The act of looking upward itself is a recurring posture. We see it repeated in depictions of ecstatic saints and enlightened figures throughout history and across cultures. Consider how such gestures tap into a deep psychological need to transcend earthly bounds. This image, laden with symbols, invites us to explore the cyclical return and evolution of cultural memory.