Saint George Killing the Dragon 1500 - 1538

Albrecht Altdorfer created this small engraving of Saint George slaying the dragon, rich with symbols of faith and courage. Here, the knight triumphs over the serpentine beast, a motif resonating deeply with historical and cultural echoes. This scene, steeped in Christian allegory, is not isolated. Consider the dragon – a symbol of chaos and evil, stretching back to ancient Near Eastern myths and reappearing in various guises across cultures. Think of the Leviathan, or even the serpent in the Garden of Eden. Each tells of primal fears and the struggle against the unknown. The act of slaying such beasts transcends mere violence; it’s a powerful expression of overcoming primal fears and societal anxieties. This motif, seen across time, speaks to humanity's eternal battle against the shadows within and without, a battle that continues to be fought in the theater of our minds.