Saint Jerome in the Desert 1511

Editor: We're looking at Hans Baldung's "Saint Jerome in the Desert." It’s a striking image, a woodcut, stark in its contrasts. What symbols stand out to you in this piece? Curator: The lion, certainly, is a key symbol, isn't it? Often paired with Jerome, representing his mastery over primal instincts. And what about the city on the hill? Does it evoke a specific place for you, or something more universal? Editor: It feels more universal, like the promise of civilization…or maybe just temptation? Curator: Precisely. The desert, after all, is the space of temptation, and of purification. Note how Baldung uses the landscape itself as a character in Jerome's story of transformation, a cultural memory connecting to our own struggles. Editor: So it’s about more than just a literal depiction of a saint? Curator: Indeed. It's about the psychological journey, the confrontation with the self. The symbolic language is really powerful here. Editor: I'll never look at Saint Jerome the same way again! Curator: And hopefully, you’ll see more in every image you encounter.