Apelles van Genève als kluizenaar 1586 - 1588

This engraving by Johann Sadeler the first, from around 1600, presents Apelles van Geneve as a hermit. But who was he? What can his depiction tell us about the social and cultural history of the period? The image of Apelles as a hermit invites us to think about the social function of art. Apelles was a historical figure who gave up his life and possessions to live in poverty. In a world that was becoming increasingly commercialised, Apelles embodies an alternative. The engraving contains visual codes relating to religion and landscape. Note the church and the trees. With these codes, it expresses the ideas and beliefs of its time. To fully understand the social dynamics of this image, scholars could investigate the history of religion during this period, and study the popular movements towards reform. Art is never made in a vacuum; it’s always contingent on social and institutional context.