Heilige Paphnutius als kluizenaar 1644

Christoffel van Sichem II created this woodcut of Saint Paphnutius as a Hermit. Sichem, working in the Netherlands during the 17th century, was part of a society grappling with religious identity amidst the Reformation. Here, we see Paphnutius kneeling in what seems to be repentance before a crucifix. His weary posture and the barren landscape evoke a sense of isolation, but I wonder what his experience really was. The choice to depict Paphnutius as a hermit raises questions about the construction of masculinity within religious contexts of the time. Was it meant to showcase a radical form of devotion? How did it negotiate the tension between spiritual pursuit and social responsibility? Consider the historical context surrounding the making of this piece, and what this image tells us about that era. What is glorified, and what is left out?