Fotoreproductie van een prent naar een schilderij, voorstellende een portret van Correggio before 1876

This is a reproduction of a portrait of Correggio. The anonymous print captures him in the act of creation, holding a brush, his gaze intense and focused. Consider how the act of holding the brush, a symbol of artistic skill, mirrors images of saints holding their attributes, signifying their identities. Think of Saint Luke, often depicted with his Gospel, or Saint Catherine with her wheel. These symbols are not merely identifiers but condensed narratives of their lives and legacies. The brush, therefore, becomes more than a tool; it is a signifier of Correggio’s genius, his ability to transform the mundane into the sublime. This act connects Correggio to a lineage of creators, both earthly and divine. The image taps into our collective memory of artistry and craftsmanship, a subconscious acknowledgment of the artist’s power to create and the enduring impact of their work. It's a cycle: from the divine to the saint, from the saint to the artist, and from the artist back to us, the viewers.