Marcus de evangelist schrijft zijn evangelie 1572 - 1575

Antoni van Leest made this engraving of Saint Mark writing his gospel sometime in the late 16th century. The image presents Mark as an authorial figure, seated in a study and accompanied by his symbol, the lion. This print was made in Paris during the French Wars of Religion, a period of intense conflict between Catholics and Protestants. The wars saw a flourishing of religious imagery, used to promote one side or the other. Prints like this one reinforced the authority of the Gospels at a time of iconoclasm. The image relies on visual codes and cultural references. Mark is haloed like an angel, but he is also a scholar working with his tools. The lion, as well as being Mark's symbol, represents majesty and power. This engraving would have reminded viewers of the importance of religious texts. Historians examine the conditions of artistic production. To understand this engraving, we might research the Counter-Reformation and the role of printmaking in religious conflict. The meaning of art depends on its historical and institutional context.