Visioen van H. Hermann Joseph (versie b) 1616 - 1657

Paulus Pontius created this print of the Vision of Saint Hermann Joseph in Antwerp, sometime in the first half of the 17th century. We see the kneeling Saint Hermann Joseph receiving the hand of Mary, who is flanked by angels. The print was made in the Southern Netherlands during the Counter-Reformation, when the Catholic Church sought to reinvigorate religious devotion and reaffirm its authority through art. Prints like these played a key role in disseminating approved religious imagery and promoting the cult of saints. The prominent display of Latin text and heraldic symbols indicates that the print served an institutional purpose within the church, perhaps as a commemorative object. For the art historian, prints like this offer a window into the religious, social, and political climate of their time. By researching the printmakers, patrons, and institutions involved, we can better understand the complex interplay between art, power, and belief in the early modern period.