Saulus op weg naar Damascus 1546

Curator: This is “Saulus op weg naar Damascus” from 1546, an engraving by Cornelis Bos. It resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: The intensity jumps out! There's a distinct contrast between the stoic figures on the left and the active stance of the armored man on the right. The stark light emphasizes this tension. Curator: Indeed. Bos captures a pivotal moment from the New Testament: Saul, soon to be Paul, receiving his mission. Consider the book being passed. It signifies the transfer of authority, yet it also hints at the intellectual weight and burden Saul is about to inherit. Books as portals. Editor: It speaks to power dynamics too, doesn't it? Saul, presented as a physically strong figure—look at his muscular build—receiving what is presumably a legal or religious mandate. We see that even in this historical setting, systems and documentation upheld and validated positions of authority. Who are those spectators flanking? They appear as props almost... Curator: Observers and beneficiaries of power, undoubtedly. Saul's aggressive body language reflects how institutional force often operates by the enforcement of ideas, or, perhaps the ideas merely serve as post-fact justification of force. Editor: Interesting. To me it highlights that dominant systems aren't reliant solely on brute force to function; legitimacy hinges upon knowledge and its selective distribution. Is that supposed to be an angel hovering up above in the background there? What is it intended to convey, and does that impact your interpretration of the book's symbolism? Curator: Good eyes! This adds yet another symbolic layer. It infuses a sense of divine intervention that guides political power on earth. That tiny figure speaks volumes. This fusion reminds me how throughout history symbols and allegories justify political power, using spiritual messaging to control cultural beliefs. This imagery plays well into today's socio-political dynamics! Editor: Absolutely! And as much as this artwork belongs to a specific period, its portrayal of power is strikingly relevant now. It leaves me reflecting on the instruments and mechanisms that bestow, sustain, and contest legitimacy, not just through force, but perception. Curator: It makes you think of art’s power to embody archetypes, reinforcing specific narratives of dominance. It also provokes a questioning of those narratives.