Mark the EvangelistFrom the 'Four Evangelists in the Round' series c. 1460 - 1465

Curator: Here we have a drawing from the late Medieval or early Northern Renaissance period, dating from around 1460 to 1465. It depicts Mark the Evangelist and comes from a series titled 'Four Evangelists in the Round'. The piece resides here at the Städel Museum. Editor: The round format gives it the feeling of looking at something through a telescope or maybe a very elaborate peephole. And the textures! The lion's fur next to the smooth drapery is very satisfying. It’s somehow both weighty and ethereal. Curator: Absolutely, that contrast contributes to the drawing's dynamism. It's important to note that, within Christian iconography, Mark is often symbolized by a lion. This imagery originates in the scriptures, further anchoring his identity within a complex, developing religious narrative. Editor: So, the lion isn't just a cute mascot. It’s an integral part of his story, his brand, almost! It definitely changes my view. It's amazing how an image can carry so much coded information. I wonder if audiences back then decoded the symbolism instantaneously? Curator: I would argue that symbols like this provided reinforcement for a hierarchical system deeply embedded in societal structure. The evangelists held substantial authority, and artworks like this reaffirmed those roles and narratives, sometimes perpetuating complex issues of power and belief. Editor: Thinking about those old belief systems and hierarchies is really compelling when viewing this as an image, not an artifact. And you start wondering about the artist's intent, about their life… and then projecting your own stories onto the drawing. Isn’t that a strange kind of magic? Curator: The projection of contemporary concerns onto historical objects offers new critical avenues and readings that can expose, and ideally redress, unequal dynamics within a lineage that stretches from medieval social hierarchies to our own lived experiences. Editor: Well, from magic peephole to modern-day manifesto, it's definitely given me something to chew on! Curator: Indeed, this work invites us to reflect on how imagery, faith, and power intertwine through time and perception.