Heilige Sebastiaan vastgebonden aan boom met pijlen in lichaam 1500 - 1575

This print of Saint Sebastian bound to a tree with arrows in his body was made by an anonymous artist. The image depicts a Roman soldier who converted to Christianity and was subsequently martyred for his faith. This Northern European print shows a figure that is both religious and homoerotic. Saint Sebastian was often depicted as a beautiful, athletic young man, and this image is no exception. The arrows in his body do not seem to cause him any pain; rather, they serve to accentuate his beauty. The image may reflect the tolerance of male same-sex relationships in some parts of Europe during this period. The image would have been consumed in private collections, where some members of society were more open to the expression and appreciation of diverse forms of beauty. To understand an artwork better, historians consult a wide range of documents. The image reminds us that the meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.