Zelfportret als de apostel Paulus c. 1865 - 1900

Laurens Lodewijk Kleijn created this self-portrait as the Apostle Paul with an alchemic process. Observe the artist adopting the guise of Paul, book in hand—a potent symbol of knowledge and divine inspiration. The book, central to Paul's identity as a writer of epistles, transcends its material form, becoming a vessel for spiritual insight, echoing across time and cultures. Consider similar motifs in earlier art, such as the philosophers of antiquity depicted with scrolls, or religious figures with sacred texts. These symbols re-emerge throughout history, each time imbued with new layers of meaning, yet still resonating with their original significance. The Apostle Paul’s book is not merely an object, it’s a conduit connecting past, present, and future. This cyclical recurrence embodies the persistence of collective memory, revealing how deeply ingrained these symbols are within our cultural consciousness.