Paulus met zwaard

About this artwork

height 210 mm x width 127 mm

Art Historical Context

This intimate work on paper by Hans Baldung Grien, created in 1519, depicts the apostle Paul holding a sword, his traditional symbol of martyrdom and spiritual authority. At just 210 by 127 millimeters, the modest scale suggests a print or drawing designed for personal reflection rather than grand display, inviting viewers to engage closely with its details. Baldung Grien, a leading figure of the Northern Renaissance and associate of Albrecht Dürer, frequently turned to religious subjects during a period of profound change in Europe. The year 1519 fell amid the early Reformation, when images of saints like Paul carried renewed meaning as emblems of faith and resilience. The paper medium itself reflects the era’s growing interest in reproducible art forms, allowing such devotional images to reach wider audiences beyond church walls. Through expressive line work and symbolic focus, the piece captures both the human and sacred dimensions of its subject in a format well suited to private contemplation.

About the Artist

Hans Baldung Grien

Hans Baldung, known by the nickname Grien, was born around 1484 or 1485 in Schwäbisch Gmünd, in the Swabia region of what is now Germany. He came from a distinguished academic family — his father Johann Baldung was a university-educated jurist who served as legal adviser to the bishop of Strasbourg — making Hans a notable exception as the first male in his family not to attend university, and one ...