Heilige Hieronymus in de wildernis c. 17th century

This is an engraving of Saint Jerome in the Wilderness by Monogrammist SPF. Note the stark contrast in values, which defines the composition with sharp lines to create an evocative depiction of the saint's penitence and spiritual quest. The arrangement of elements invites a structuralist reading. Jerome, the lion, the crucifix, and the skull each occupy distinct spaces, yet they're interconnected through a web of symbolic relationships. Jerome's placement to the right anchors the scene with his gaunt figure gazing towards the crucifix, embodying the redemptive power of faith against the wilderness. The use of line—seen in the rendering of the landscape and the saint’s anatomy—creates a textured surface, evoking the emotional and physical trials of asceticism. The structural contrasts create a semiotic tension between the symbols of mortality and redemption. The composition functions as a discourse on the instability of meaning, where the ascetic’s journey is one of continual re-evaluation and spiritual recalibration.