H. Bartolomeüs 1623

Curator: Welcome. Here we have Lucas Kilian's "H. Bartolomeüs," a baroque engraving completed in 1623, now held in the Rijksmuseum collection. Editor: There's a stark, almost severe quality to this print, isn't there? The linework is so precise, creating a rather intense portrait. And the implied texture! The drapery almost seems palpable, while the... object at his side... creates a disturbing visual contrast. Curator: The composition employs a very formal arrangement. Note the architectural niche framing Saint Bartholomew, directing the eye to his figure, and above all, the engraving’s effective use of light and shadow. See how Kilian uses contrasting lines to model the Saint’s musculature, drapery and gruesome object? Editor: Let's address that object. The peeled skin so realistically portrayed definitely evokes Saint Bartholomew’s martyrdom. What does the placement of this particular depiction signify, in your view? Curator: Within its historical and religious context, this depiction makes powerful claims about suffering, devotion, and, I dare say, truth. Kilian employs a stark, Baroque visual language that perfectly mirrors the intensity of this spiritual and physical drama. The skin serves to make visceral and unavoidably public a saint known to only be seen within. Editor: Indeed, there's also an element of the "danse macabre" present here; a sort of reminder about the frailty of existence. I also wonder if this particular depiction might relate to the power structures of the period. Images such as these must have been incredibly affecting, no? Curator: Absolutely. Consider the broader cultural currents swirling around the work at that time. The print undoubtedly functioned as a tool for religious and ideological persuasion during that era. Editor: The meticulous execution gives the subject a striking presence, a kind of undeniable weight. It makes you consider the weight of history, how depictions change… and sometimes do not. Curator: Quite. It makes me appreciate the enduring power of skilled craftsmanship. Kilian’s careful control of the burin transforms what could be gruesome into something approaching profound visual poetry. Editor: For me, the visual poem you discuss reveals the past made visible, and I find myself wondering what lasting lessons this particular vision continues to reveal about humanity’s capacity for both cruelty and enduring belief.