Saint Sebastian 1470 - 1491

Martin Schongauer made this engraving of Saint Sebastian in fifteenth-century Germany, a time when the printing press was facilitating the spread of both information and images. Schongauer’s highly skilled technique allowed him to create a detailed and emotionally charged image. The figure of Saint Sebastian, tied to a tree and pierced with arrows, speaks to themes of faith, suffering, and redemption that resonate deeply with the period's religious culture. Prints like this one played a crucial role in disseminating artistic ideas and religious iconography across Europe. They were relatively affordable, and portable, allowing people to engage with art and religious narratives in their homes and personal lives. To understand the significance of this work, we need to consider the social and religious context in which it was created, as well as the institutions that supported artistic production and consumption. Researching the history of printmaking and religious devotion in fifteenth-century Germany would offer a richer understanding of the work's historical meaning.