Saint John with the witness 975

Ende illuminated "Saint John with the Witness," on parchment sometime in the late 10th century, within the cultural milieu of a Spanish monastery. Ende is believed to be the first Spanish female artist, working at a time and in a place where the dominant representations were overwhelmingly male. The work is both strikingly conventional and surprisingly modern. Ende, as a female artist, engaged with and perpetuated religious narratives that often marginalized women. At the same time, her role as an artist offered her a unique position of authority and self-expression. The angel at the top, the figures of John and the witness, are stylized in bright colors. Ende uses shapes and patterns to bring visual variety to the page, with strong lines and geometric forms. The emotional impact lies in the tension between the familiar religious narrative and the unique perspective Ende brings as a female creator.