St. Peter, plate 1 from The Twelve Apostles 1545

Sebald Beham made this print, St. Peter, around 1545 using engraving. The composition is dominated by fine, linear details, creating texture and depth within a small space. The parallel lines define the fall of drapery and articulate the saint's features, giving the image a tangible, almost sculptural quality. Beham employs line not just to describe, but to construct form and meaning. The lines radiating from St. Peter’s head form a halo, marking him as sacred. The key he holds is not merely an attribute, but a symbol of his power and the authority vested in him. The artist’s monogram and the date inscribed on the stone further embed the work within its historical moment, inviting us to consider the role of the artist as interpreter and communicator of religious narratives. Through precise and deliberate marks, Beham transforms a small plate into a complex semiotic field. This print remains an open text, inviting continual engagement and interpretation across time.