The Young Saint John the Baptist c. 1595

Editor: This is "The Young Saint John the Baptist," attributed to Hendrick Goltzius, residing here at Harvard Art Museums. The hatching is really striking. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Notice how the upward gaze and the symbolic animals—the lamb, the birds—position John as a conduit between the earthly and divine. Can you feel the artist drawing on centuries of Christian iconography? Editor: Definitely. It’s like a visual language. Curator: Precisely. And consider how the natural world, rendered almost feverishly, embodies spiritual yearning. Does the intensity of the landscape amplify John's calling? Editor: It does. I now appreciate the power of the symbols to deepen the narrative. Curator: Indeed, and understanding these symbols unlocks layers of meaning.