Onofrius, from the series Solitudo Sive Vitae Patrum Eremicolarum 1585 - 1586

Curator: Here we have Johann Sadeler I's engraving, "Onofrius, from the series Solitudo Sive Vitae Patrum Eremicolarum," created around 1585-1586. Editor: It strikes me as a rather bleak, solitary scene. The figure seems burdened, yet there’s a certain peace suggested by the detailed landscape. Curator: The image reflects a resurgence of interest in early Christian asceticism, a narrative rooted in both theological dogma and the sociopolitical upheaval of 16th century Europe. Onofrius was a 4th-century hermit. The mythos surrounding him as an untamed wild man reflects anxieties related to faith, order, and social exclusion of the time. Editor: The rosary he clutches seems central. Note the positioning, so that it appears against his chest and is visually related to the cross in the background. The artist clearly used potent religious symbols to evoke emotional power. Curator: Absolutely. He’s practically naked, a leaf skirt being his only attire. It connects him visually to the "noble savage" archetype and speaks to European colonial projections of indigenous peoples while referencing a biblical state of nature—echoing, perhaps, both Adam before the Fall and a form of spiritual purity achieved through renouncing worldly possessions. Editor: And the detailed landscape? It evokes not just physical isolation, but a kind of psychological space as well. The viewer's eyes are drawn towards a cascade that seems both visually appealing and dangerous to be near. Curator: Precisely. The wild and unforgiving landscape becomes a stage for self-imposed exile and the theatre of piety, all within a landscape brimming with both potential danger and, ironically, a promise of salvation. It mirrors the internal conflicts and the external challenges faced by many during the period. Editor: So, an image that, at first glance, feels simply like a historical scene becomes a loaded commentary on religion, societal order, and even colonial aspirations. Curator: Precisely! It’s a reminder that even images seemingly set apart by time can tell us so much about ourselves.