Saint James Major 1485 - 1528

Curator: Looking at "Saint James Major" a print made between 1485 and 1528 by Albrecht Dürer, I am immediately struck by how… complete he appears. Even though it's just a pen sketch, it feels like a full statement. Editor: Yes, I agree! My first impression is the power in this simple sketch; the figure emerges from a forest or a garden like a wise sage. It almost has the gravity of a fully rendered painting despite being lines on toned paper. Curator: It's interesting to see how Dürer utilized the motif of Saint James the Great, drawing upon recognizable elements from existing traditions of the saint, but reinterpreting it in a completely unique manner. The symbols he employs – like the scallop shell – had powerful cultural resonance in that historical period. The question is, does this cultural significance remain for the contemporary audience? Editor: That's a really important question. Does it *matter* if we fully grasp the traditional iconography? I wonder if, maybe, something else is emerging, something about a journey of the spirit more generally. It's about the feeling it evokes, a sense of quiet, inner searching, irrespective of any pre-packaged saintly symbolism. I connect with the feeling immediately, with or without knowledge of the details of the story. Curator: I appreciate your view on it! The use of pen-and-ink and watercolor to create that kind of depth is also incredible; Dürer plays with layers, and lines that appear dense, but allow some light in—he seems so playful despite dealing with serious religious ideas. It's amazing that the work is a pen sketch because of its complexity! Editor: Exactly, playful yet wise. It is the controlled, expressive touch of an artist completely at home in his craft and inner world! A humble presentation but deep in its expression. I think this is why his legacy and cultural footprint lives on in a vibrant way to this day! Curator: Indeed! I agree wholeheartedly. Editor: Me too, well, until the next masterpiece, perhaps!