St. Ignatius of Loyala – Two Standards “Poverty, Insults, Humility” Original Linocut

Hand-carved and hand-stamped with extra love, this original lino is based on a reflection from St. Ignatius of Loyola. I stamped this, so it’s not a digital copy. In fact, it might even come with my fingerprints on the back, from when I pressed the ink from the block onto the paper.

– I elect to use oil-based inks, as I love their deep, rich hues.
– The lightweight printmaking paper (Strathmore) is 11″x 14″, artwork is approximately 8″x 10″
– Because this is hand-stamped, there will be slight variations from print to print, making each print unique
– The print is sold unframed, but, I made the paper a size that is super easy to find in most stores. I figured I’d save you the $ on shipping.
– Print will come in a plastic sleeve, with some protective cardboard, in a bubble mailer.

This print comes in both brown and black and a gorgeous turquoise. I do have other inks, though, if you request them.

This cut is based on a reflection by a guy known as “St. Ignatius of Loyola” who advocated using imagination in prayer, and he wrote a series of imagination-based reflections. In one of them, you’re supposed to imagine a battlefield and the powers of darkness show up and they’re trying to recruit people and they’re promising them “Riches, honor, and pride,” (but in the end they also destroy you because they don’t care about you) and then (spoiler alert) you’re supposed to imagine Jesus show up with the powers of light. He’s trying to recruit as well and He’s offering “Poverty, insults, and humility,” (at this point, in my imagination, I was like, “Dangit, we’re never going to win??” But we already have because of the Resurrection) and then (spoiler alert #2) the warring armies ask you what you want to pick…and you have to choose.

So choose wisely, friend, choose wisely.

This reflection is often referred to as the “Two Standards.”

(Also, I realize that the “N” is backwards. Once I saw that, I decided to keep it. For my own humility. Maybe someone coming to your house will judge you for it, and then you can grow in humility, too).