De Heilige Martinus deelt zijn mantel met een bedelaar 1503

Albrecht Durer made this woodcut, depicting Saint Martin sharing his cloak with a beggar, a potent symbol of Christian charity. Martin, haloed and on horseback, uses his sword to cut his cloak, a dramatic gesture that transcends mere altruism. This act echoes in earlier Roman imagery, where the cloak symbolized status and protection. The act of giving then transforms into one of profound empathy. We see the archetype of the generous saint appear repeatedly across cultures and centuries. Yet, the inherent tension remains: the giver versus the receiver, wealth against poverty. This dichotomy engages our subconscious, stirring deep-seated feelings of guilt, compassion, and the desire for justice. Thus, Durer’s woodcut is not just a depiction of a saintly act, but a mirror reflecting our own complex relationship with charity and social responsibility, evoking a timeless dance of moral questioning.