Saul and His Armor-bearer Kill Themselves with Their Swords c. 1579

Curator: This compelling print, attributed to Hans Collaert the Elder, is titled "Saul and His Armor-bearer Kill Themselves with Their Swords." Editor: What strikes me immediately is the chaotic composition, yet contained within the rigid frame of the book. The clashing colours mirror the turmoil of the scene. Curator: Indeed. The image depicts a scene from the Hebrew Bible, loaded with symbolism about leadership and despair. Note the deliberate placement of Saul's crown near the foregrounded figure. Editor: And the swords—phallic symbols of power—are here turned inward, agents of self-destruction. The armor, too, speaks of vulnerability beneath a facade of strength. Curator: Precisely. Collaert’s technique, with its meticulous line work and calculated use of colour, amplifies the emotional weight of the narrative, doesn’t it? Editor: Absolutely. The image resonates deeply, evoking themes of hubris, defeat, and the ultimate futility of earthly power.