Saint John 

This is Jacques Bellange's Saint John, an engraving from the early 17th century. Bellange lived during a time of considerable religious and political conflict in Europe, which deeply influenced art of the period. Here, Saint John is depicted with an androgynous quality, a figure draped in voluminous robes that simultaneously conceal and reveal. The gaze is complex: neither male nor female. This representation challenges the traditionally masculine depictions of religious figures, hinting at a more fluid understanding of identity, and spirituality. Note the chalice with a snake rising from it. Traditionally, the chalice symbolizes the Eucharist and the snake alludes to attempts to poison Saint John. Bellange's Saint John invites us to reconsider the boundaries of gender and identity within religious art. It captures a moment of contemplation and perhaps a challenge to the rigid norms of the time.