Paulus 1589 - 1625

This print of Paulus was created by an anonymous artist. It uses engraving to bring the figure and his attributes to life. Here we see Paul as an imposing figure, holding both a book and a sword, symbols of knowledge and power. His stance is confident, hinting at the importance of his image. The imagery of the print—made in a time of religious upheaval in Europe—draws heavily on the Bible. Paulus stands as a figure of authority during the Reformation. He’s a kind of model for both religious conviction and the intellectual life. The print’s status as an unsigned work makes understanding its purpose difficult. Was it simply an act of piety? Or was it intended to shape opinions during a heated theological battle? To understand this fully, we need to look at the wider context: its place in the print market, its dissemination, and its audience.