Sint Joris en de draak

Willem van Konijnenburg created this print of Saint George and the Dragon, its date is unknown, but it was made sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. Van Konijnenburg's composition taps into the enduring iconography of Saint George, the slayer of dragons, a motif deeply embedded in Western Christian culture. The image creates meaning through visual codes. Dragons represent chaos, evil, and the pre-Christian past, while George embodies Christian virtue and courage. The image promotes the triumph of good over evil, echoing the self-consciously conservative values found in the religious institutions of Europe at the time. This print would have been very appealing to them. Historical sources, such as ecclesiastical records, art market data, and biographical information about the artist would reveal more about the social and institutional context of this print. These resources help us understand how art operates within specific communities.