Die Predigt des Heiligen Paulus in Ephesus c. 1649

Eustache Le Sueur sketched "Die Predigt des Heiligen Paulus in Ephesus," or "The Sermon of Saint Paul in Ephesus," a study of religious conversion and cultural transformation, in pen and graphite sometime in the 17th century. Le Sueur, working within the context of 17th-century France, a period marked by religious and political upheaval, invites us to consider the intersections of faith, power, and identity. The artist depicts the moment when Saint Paul’s sermon leads to the renunciation of pagan beliefs, symbolized by the burning of books. This was a time when religious conversion often meant cultural assimilation. How are individual spiritual awakenings shaped by collective cultural shifts? "The Sermon of Saint Paul in Ephesus" reflects the complex interplay between personal conviction and broader societal movements, asking us to consider how faith shapes identity and how power dynamics influence spiritual experiences.