Paulus met zwaard 1519

Hans Baldung created this woodcut, Paulus met zwaard, sometime in the early 16th century. During this time, artists like Baldung were grappling with the religious and social upheavals of the Reformation. In this work, we see Paul holding a sword and a book. The sword symbolizes his martyrdom, but it also evokes his forceful advocacy for his faith. The book represents the epistles he authored. Baldung’s Paul is a figure of intellectual and physical strength. He has a halo, yet Baldung depicts him as a very human figure, aged and careworn. The woodcut medium itself speaks to the democratization of religious ideas during the Reformation. Prints were more accessible and affordable. This allowed for widespread dissemination of images and texts, empowering individuals to interpret religious teachings for themselves. How does Baldung’s work encourage you to reconcile your own beliefs with the realities of human existence?