St. James and the Magician Hermogenes (1565, Met-Objekt 1906)
Original title: St. James and the Magician Hermogenes
kurzbeschreibung
Pieter Bruegel the Elder made this engraving, Saint James and the Magician Hermogenes, in 1565. A crowded, densely populated sheet: the saint stands at the center, hemmed in by magical and demonic figures. This is the first state of three; the format measures 26.2 x 34 cm.
Description
A holy man with a staff forms the still point amid a crowd of agitated figures. Some shrink back in fright, others bend intently to their work. Above the action more figures hover in the air, while bodies lie on the ground below. The layout feels restless: people scatter in every direction, heightening the activity of the sheet. Objects and symbols of magical or spiritual meaning are spread across the whole scene. Engraved line builds strong shadows and contrasts, giving the image depth and structure.
Context
The print appeared in 1565, when the Netherlands were under Spanish rule and religious tensions ran through the country. Bruegel was known for his detailed accounts of peasant life and religious subjects, often with a moralizing edge. The legend of James and Hermogenes belongs to Christian tradition and was frequently pictured in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The print came from the workshop of Hieronymus Cock, one of Antwerp's leading publishers of prints.
Impact
At first glance the dense file of figures and the high-contrast lighting seize the eye and create drama at once. The many figures, each reacting differently, produce a lively, almost theatrical mood that draws the viewer into the action. Precise linework and clearly separated planes give the sheet a calm but charged presence.
Technique
For an engraving, lines are cut into a copper plate, which is then inked and printed on paper. The first state of three records the plate before later reworking, which makes it especially interesting to collectors and scholars. Fine lines and cross-hatching model light and shade, a hallmark of Renaissance printmaking.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)