Heilige Lazarus met ratel en twee honden 1500 - 1575

This anonymous engraving depicts Saint Lazarus, identifiable by his leper’s rattle and accompanied by two dogs. Lazarus, in his biblical context, represents the ultimate symbol of resurrection and divine favour. Consider the figure of Lazarus, whose narrative extends beyond mere physical healing, embodying a profound spiritual rebirth. The rattle, a crude instrument, transforms into a symbol of warning and recognition, a sonic marker of his changed status. Meanwhile, the dogs, traditionally symbols of fidelity, here evoke themes of healing and comfort, recalling ancient beliefs in the curative powers of animals. Reflect upon the figure of a saint, marked by suffering yet surrounded by symbols of loyalty and warning: these motifs resonate with the complexities of human and divine experience. Like the serpent in the Garden of Eden, these symbols are not static; they evolve, their meanings shaped by the shifting sands of history and culture, carrying emotional and psychological weight across time and space.