Saint Wulfram, from Saints of the North and South Netherlands 1650

Editor: This is "Saint Wulfram, from Saints of the North and South Netherlands," a print made by Cornelis Visscher in 1650. It's an engraving, very detailed. I’m struck by the intensity of his gaze and the incredible detail in his robes. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Ah, Saint Wulfram. Visscher captures a very particular type of Baroque saint, doesn’t he? Think of it as a stage, lit just so, the saint illuminated… practically radiating. And notice the book – the "Vita et Miracula." It's not just a prop; it's practically screaming, “Look at the stories I hold!” It’s the 17th century equivalent of a celebrity tell-all, I suspect. Do you find it convincing? Editor: I can see the theatrical element, especially the lighting. But is it all just for show, or is there genuine devotion here? Curator: Perhaps it is both! Baroque art often grapples with this tension, right? The spectacle amplifies the spiritual, makes it digestible, maybe even marketable. But look closer—the wrinkles around his eyes, the way he holds that book...it is as though the saint were holding a tiny bird so gentle he is, knowing that to hold it too tight would surely injure it. Tell me, are we not all birds of sorts? Editor: That’s a beautiful way to put it. I hadn’t thought of it like that before, but it makes a lot of sense within that cultural context. Curator: Exactly. Visscher invites us into a drama where faith is not just felt but *seen*. Which is very like this experience we share! Editor: I’ll definitely look at Baroque art differently now, especially these kinds of portraits. Thank you!