Saint Paul

About this work

This is a black-and-white woodcut of a bearded man in robes. He holds a long sword in one hand and a scroll in the other, with a small cross on the hilt. His hair is long and wavy, and he looks serious, almost lost in thought. The background has swirling patterns and tiny cherubs peeking from the edges. The artist used sharp lines to show texture, like the folds in the robes and the grain of the wood. Woodcut prints like this were common in the 1500s—cheap to make and easy to share. Next, check out the technique: woodcut.