Saint Paul 1589

Hendrick Goltzius created this engraving of Saint Paul during the late 16th century in the Netherlands. It is a masterful example of the printmaking techniques that flourished across Europe at this time. The image presents a powerful depiction of the Apostle Paul, holding a sword and a book, set against a rugged landscape. The Latin inscription translates to 'For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.' In this period, the Dutch Republic was asserting its independence, and printmaking played a crucial role in disseminating religious and political ideas. Goltzius himself converted to Anabaptism later in life, so he may have had an interest in depicting early Christians as models for radical change. To fully understand this print, we can turn to period sources, such as theological texts and pamphlets that circulated at the time, to learn about the social and religious context in which Goltzius was working. This reminds us that our understanding of art evolves as our knowledge of its world deepens.