St. Matthew,from Christ, the Apostles and St. Paul with the Creed 1584 - 1594

Hendrick Goltzius created this engraving of St. Matthew, part of a series on the Apostles' Creed. The composition, dominated by intricate line work, presents Matthew in a contemplative pose, his gaze directed towards an open book, set against a rugged landscape. The formal arrangement creates a dialectic between the saint's figure and the natural, rocky environment. The lines and shading give depth to the scene, while the contrast between light and shadow enhances the emotional weight. The curves of his body are mirrored in the swirls below the lettering, tying together form and text. Goltzius used the semiotic structure of his time, embedding cultural and religious codes within the image. The spear, a symbol of Matthew's martyrdom, pierces the stability of the composition, destabilizing the traditional iconography of sainthood. This engraving, with its formal rigor and semiotic density, encapsulates the intersection of faith, art, and intellectual inquiry characteristic of the period. Through the detailed play of line and form, Goltzius invites ongoing interpretation and reflection on the cultural and philosophical discourses of his time.