Heilige Rochus als pelgrim met pelgrimsstaf en pestbult op been 1500 - 1527

This engraving by Marcantonio Raimondi depicts Saint Roch as a pilgrim, a beacon of hope during times of plague. The saint is identified by his pilgrim's staff and the bubo on his thigh, a clear indication of his suffering. We observe Roch’s raised hand, a gesture of supplication, echoing through centuries of iconic imagery. Consider the Orant figures of early Christian catacombs, their arms raised in prayer, a plea for divine intervention. This gesture transcends its immediate context, appearing again and again, a powerful symbol lodged deep within our cultural memory. The bubo, usually a symbol of death, paradoxically signifies Roch's healing power over disease. Such paradoxes are powerful. They represent the cyclical nature of human experience. From the depths of despair, hope can arise, transforming symbols of suffering into emblems of resilience. Roch’s image thus becomes a potent reminder of humanity’s enduring spirit.