Abraham van Edessa als kluizenaar 1583 - 1588

Johann Sadeler I created this engraving, Abraham van Edessa as a Hermit, in the late 16th century. During this time, the Catholic Church was reeling from the Protestant Reformation and grappling with how to represent faith and piety. Here, Sadeler depicts Abraham, a figure who chose to live as a hermit, in simple clothing, engrossed in study, and set apart from the world, as a pious man. A woman peers out from an opening in the simple structure, and a spring of water trickles in the foreground, signs of life near the dwelling. This image reflects a complex negotiation between traditional religious narratives and emerging humanist values, capturing the tension of an era marked by both religious fervor and intellectual questioning.