St. Judas Thaddaeus from Christ and the Apostles 1519

Hans Baldung rendered this woodcut of St. Judas Thaddaeus, one of Christ’s apostles, sometime in the early 16th century. We see Judas, identified by his halo, holding a book, symbolising the Gospel, and a club, his attribute relating to the manner of his martyrdom. Below him, a grotesque demon lies prostrate, defeated by the saint's power. This motif of the vanquished demon carries echoes of ancient iconography. Think of the hero battling a serpent, a symbol of chaos. Here, the demon represents the spiritual obstacles overcome by faith, a visual metaphor for inner struggles made manifest. It is a powerful, psychological drama playing out. Such imagery is not merely illustrative; it is a potent engagement with collective memory. The confrontation between saint and demon touches upon the subconscious fear of the unknown, a fear that resonates deeply within us all. It is a motif that has coursed through the ages, continually adapting to reflect humanity’s eternal struggle.