Sebastiaan wordt verlost van pijlen door engelen 1512

Hans Baldung created this woodcut, "Sebastiaan wordt verlost van pijlen door engelen", in 1515. Baldung, working in the German Renaissance, lived during a time of religious and social upheaval marked by the Reformation. Here, Saint Sebastian, a symbol of resilience and faith, is rescued by angels. The narrative unfolds with Sebastian, tied to a tree, his body bearing the marks of his martyrdom, surrounded by cherubic angels who work to dislodge the arrows. This image resonates with themes of salvation, intervention, and divine grace. Baldung’s composition departs from traditional representations of martyrdom by interweaving themes of vulnerability and divine intervention. The emotional intensity of the scene is palpable, inviting viewers to consider themes of suffering, redemption, and the interplay between human vulnerability and divine intervention. "Sebastiaan wordt verlost van pijlen door engelen" encapsulates the complexities of faith, identity, and the human condition during the Renaissance period.