Conversion of St. Paul c. 1515 - 1516

Hans Baldung created this print of the "Conversion of St. Paul" using woodcut techniques sometime in the early 16th century. The composition is dramatically split between a heavenly burst of light and a scene of earthly chaos. The upper portion is dominated by diagonal lines representing divine rays, contrasting with the lower half filled with a jumble of horses and figures in disarray. Baldung masterfully uses line and texture to evoke a sense of dynamism. The density of the lines increases where shadow and drama intensify. In semiotic terms, the bright light serves as a signifier of divine intervention disrupting established orders. The figures, caught in a moment of revelation, are presented as overwhelmed by this force. Baldung invites us to ponder the instability of human convictions when confronted by transcendental experiences.