Study for the right part of St Stephen's dalmatic with his right hand 1520 - 1522

Curator: Ah, here we have Hans Baldung’s “Study for the right part of St Stephen’s dalmatic with his right hand,” rendered in pencil around 1520-1522. It’s part of the collection at the SMK, the Statens Museum for Kunst. Editor: A hand suspended in quiet light... There's a kind of delicate grace in the tentative lines, almost like a ghost trying to solidify into the world. Curator: It's preparatory, of course, a detail from what would be the more complete vestment. Baldung was really diving into these kinds of intricacies within religious iconography. What catches my eye is the fabric; the folds hint at a heavier brocade. Editor: Yes! The drape of the sleeve, in particular, suggests the weight, and perhaps even a feeling of power conferred by this ornate religious garment. Hands, throughout art history, signify blessing, action, sometimes supplication. The slightly raised position… what is it reaching for, metaphorically? Curator: Exactly. In this case, given the subject, martyrdom, St. Stephen holding the stones perhaps? I find myself pondering what symbols were included to create more impact with the faithful. The stitches… they signify work but I suspect are also decorative to communicate prosperity, possibly privilege. Editor: And let's consider, too, how the northern-renaissance influenced the symbolism. Everything, it seems, pointed towards the Divine in earthly form, in an era grappling with rapid changes… economic expansion alongside religious reformation. A sketch like this speaks volumes about a culture grappling with identity, clinging to familiar imagery amidst shifting realities. Curator: It makes you think about all that Baldung’s art encompasses in the context of early 16th century shifts… political tensions and theological reformation… Editor: Ultimately, isn’t art all about connecting us with a feeling from the past, an echo across centuries? This particular artwork makes me grateful for these quiet echoes.