The Penitent St. Jerome 1539 - 1591

This is Jost Amman’s "The Penitent St. Jerome," a detailed engraving reflecting 16th-century artistry. The composition is dominated by meticulous lines creating texture and form. Notice how light and shadow play across the scene, achieved solely through the density and direction of etched lines, giving depth to the landscape and figures. At the center, St. Jerome kneels, his form emerging from the detailed lines, while a lion rests beside him, both figures framed by a dense forest. This juxtaposition of the human figure, animal, and landscape elements invites a semiotic reading. The starkness of the lines and absence of color emphasize form and structure. The detailed environment contrasts with the central figures, highlighting the tension between nature and the ascetic ideal of St. Jerome. Amman masterfully uses engraving to explore themes of repentance, humanity, and nature, inviting us to look closely at the dialogue between form and meaning.