St. Paul (Second State) 1514

This is Dürer's "St. Paul", an engraving made in 1514, which captures the saint holding a book, a symbol of knowledge and divine inspiration. Note the sword at Paul’s feet, a reference to his martyrdom, but also, perhaps, echoing a more ancient symbol of power and justice. Consider the book's appearance throughout history, from ancient scrolls to illuminated manuscripts. Here, it signifies Paul's epistles, foundational texts of Christianity. But the act of reading has deeper roots, appearing in portrayals of philosophers and prophets across cultures. It makes me think of the motif of the "philosopher with a book" in ancient Greece. Over time this iconography merges with early Christian representations of evangelists holding sacred scriptures. It is an evolution of the meaning of 'wisdom' and 'authority' in an ever-changing cultural landscape. Such images tap into a collective memory, sparking subconscious associations with knowledge and authority, and the powerful, sometimes dangerous pursuit of it. The enduring presence of these symbols reveals the continuous dialogue between humanity and its cultural heritage.