Heilige Simeon Stylites de Oudere als kluizenaar 1644

Curator: Here we have "Heilige Simeon Stylites de Oudere als kluizenaar," or Saint Simeon Stylites the Elder as a Hermit, an engraving by Christoffel van Sichem II, created in 1644. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by this figure hunched under what seems like divine light, or maybe a particularly brutal sun. There’s something about the almost feverish intensity of the lines that makes you feel the heat and the isolation. Curator: Right. The technique here is key. Sichem, working within the Baroque style, uses an intricate system of engraved lines. These lines aren't just decorative, they're doing the work of shading, creating volume, and really defining the texture of everything, from Simeon's skin to his garments and even the harsh landscape. It also clearly makes visible the marks and skill of the engraver. Editor: Texture, that's the word! You can almost feel the scratch of the engraving tool. And you are right, that act of repetitive, meticulous mark-making certainly speaks to Simeon's own self discipline. Tell me more about this fellow Simeon Stylites. Curator: Saint Simeon was a real historical figure who gained notoriety for living atop a pillar for almost 40 years, renouncing earthly comforts. So, for Sichem and his 17th-century audience, Simeon would be an emblem of extreme religious devotion and self-denial. The prints themselves likely served a devotional function for those within the church. Editor: Living on a pillar... It’s so strange and slightly unsettling to think about now. Though there is something really beautiful in the simplicity of the story. This print gives you this incredible visual texture that hints at a really deep history and belief. You almost understand the appeal, right? It’s the drama. Curator: Exactly. It's also about labor. This print involved very intense, focused physical effort on Sichem's part. That labor mirrors, in a way, Simeon’s own rigorous practices. Editor: Right, so, you are what you make…in this case, a picture that tries to make manifest the impossible idea of saintliness through repeated physical act, the making of the engraving and the making of the self, on top of a pillar. I hadn't thought about that... Thanks! Curator: Anytime. I feel as though seeing art through labor is fundamental and yet, sometimes completely forgotten.