Vida de Felipe de Jesus protomartir de Japón y patrón de su patria México 1801

This print, created by José María Montes de Oca in 1801, depicts the life of San Felipe de Jesús. Dominating the upper register is the radiant symbol of the Holy Name, IHS, surrounded by cherubs, signifying divine glory. But let us dive deeper into the image’s symbolism. The cherubs, ubiquitous in Christian art, echo ancient Greco-Roman motifs of winged spirits, transformed over centuries to represent celestial attendants. Note the palm frond, a classical symbol of victory, here repurposed as a martyr's attribute. It evokes similar representations of triumphant figures from antiquity—a visual echo across millennia. The emotional power of such symbols lies in their ability to tap into our collective memory. The image is not just a depiction of a saint, but a complex layering of cultural and psychological associations, each element resonating with deep-seated emotions of faith, triumph, and sacrifice. This is an example of the cyclical return of symbols, constantly evolving, yet forever tethered to their origins.