H. Sebastiaan 1618 - 1655

Cornelis Schut created this print of H. Sebastiaan in the 17th century. During this period, the Catholic Church and the arts were deeply intertwined. The imagery was designed to elicit an emotional response from the viewer, reinforcing religious doctrine and the stories of the saints. Here, Saint Sebastian is surrounded by compassionate figures and angels, a common representation emphasizing his suffering and faith. What might be less obvious is the homoerotic undertones present in the depiction of Sebastian’s body, a trope frequently seen throughout art history when representing the saint. He is passively reclined with his torso bare, in what can be seen as an idealized male form. This image is not merely a religious scene, but also a complex interplay of faith, suffering, and sexuality, mirroring the intricate relationship between the church and the individual. The print invites us to reflect on the varied dimensions of religious identity and artistic expression.