Saints Valentine, Stephen, and Maximilian, the Patron Saints of Passau 1503 - 1505

This hand-colored woodcut of Saints Valentine, Stephen, and Maximilian was created by Hans Burgkmair. The work is striking for its early use of color printing. The composition presents three saints under an ornamented archway in a symmetrical arrangement that emphasizes order. Burgkmair's use of line and color serves not just a decorative function but operates within a structured framework. Each figure is rendered with careful attention to detail, from the folds of their robes to the symbols they carry, engaging with the codes of religious iconography. The choice of colors, applied in blocks, enhances the visual clarity and reinforces the symbolic weight of each figure. The saints are not merely representations, but function as signs within a larger cultural and religious discourse. Their arrangement suggests a hierarchy, a system of values, and a set of beliefs. The formal structure of the work mirrors and reinforces the social and religious structures of its time. The symmetry and the calculated use of color contribute to a sense of balance. This functions as a visual metaphor for the balanced moral order that these saints represent.