Saint Peter and Saint Paul at the Door of Bonhomme Misere (Saint Pierre et Saint Paula la port du Bonhomme Misere) 

Alphonse Legros etched 'Saint Peter and Saint Paul at the Door of Bonhomme Misere,' depicting a biblical encounter. The foremost figure is Peter, keys absent, hand open in supplication, symbolizing spiritual authority and the plea for earthly assistance. The ladder, a potent symbol, rises behind the saints—evoking Jacob's Ladder, a conduit between heaven and earth, hinting at divine intervention. The imagery is reminiscent of medieval morality plays where saints test the virtue of mortals. This tale of Saints testing the goodness of a man is also found in older traditions. Note the emotional gravity etched into the faces; the weight of their mission, their appeal to the viewer resonating on a primal level. Such depictions tap into our collective memory. The viewer is not a mere observer, but also implicated in the scene, as Legros masterfully blends the sacred with human vulnerability.