Saint Mark the Evangelist c. 16th century

Curator: Here we see an interesting example of early printing, an anonymous work titled "Saint Mark the Evangelist." What strikes you first about this piece? Editor: The raw quality of the woodcut really grabs me. The scene is stark, almost brutal. There’s a sense of immediate action—or perhaps interrupted action. Curator: Indeed. The materiality emphasizes the labor, both physical and intellectual. The block had to be carved, then printed, suggesting a wider reach than a single illuminated manuscript could achieve. Editor: But what is the symbolic language at play? Saint Mark is often represented with a lion, and I see something like a lion skin at his feet, but there is no traditional halo. And above, behind a stone wall, are onlookers. This feels almost theatrical, like a passion play. Curator: Perhaps these symbols would resonate more deeply within the context of the time. Editor: Absolutely. And that's why diving into the iconography can unlock so much richness. It transforms our understanding of both the image and the culture that produced it.