Heilige Sebastiaan 1618 - 1622

This is Jusepe de Ribera’s etching of Saint Sebastian, the early Christian saint and martyr. Here, we see the saint tied to a tree, awaiting his martyrdom. Sebastian, known as a protector against plagues, embodies resilience and faith amid suffering. The motif of the bound figure recurs throughout art history, echoing classical sculptures of captive figures from antiquity. These images explore themes of vulnerability, sacrifice, and the limits of human endurance. Consider the ancient Greek sculptures of Laocoön and his sons—agonized figures entwined by serpents. These images evoke profound emotional responses, tapping into our collective memory of suffering. The image of Sebastian resonates deeply, symbolizing the triumph of faith over adversity, a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit. It shows the cyclical nature of symbols.