Landschap met evangelist Marcus 1580

"Landscape with Saint Mark" was made around 1620 by Wierix with engraving. Set in a forest clearing, Saint Mark is portrayed with his symbolic lion, with both bathed in divine light from above. The landscape genre in the Netherlands during the late 16th and early 17th centuries developed a distinct cultural identity, often reflecting the political and religious tensions of the time. Amidst the Reformation and the Dutch Revolt, landscape art became a vehicle for expressing cultural and national identity, with the land symbolizing freedom and divine favor. Wierix, working in this context, infuses his landscapes with religious symbolism. The inclusion of Saint Mark is a reflection of the pervasive influence of religious narratives, with the Evangelist embodying the virtues of scholarship and devotion, set against the backdrop of a natural world imbued with divine presence. Wierix invites viewers to reflect on the intersection of faith, nature, and human experience, illustrating the era’s spiritual landscape.