Allegorie op de Bul of Constitutie Unigenitus van paus Clemens XI, ca. 1723-1724 1723 - 1724

This print, made around 1723-1724 by an anonymous artist, allegorically represents the papal bull Unigenitus issued by Pope Clement XI. The image's complex symbolism relates to the intense theological and political debates of the time. The bull condemned Jansenism, a Catholic theological movement emphasizing original sin and predestination, which had gained significant influence, particularly in France and the Netherlands. The papacy, as a centralizing institution, sought to suppress divergent views. Made in the Dutch Republic, this print critiques that suppression. The Dutch, having fought for religious freedom, were wary of centralized authority, whether political or religious. The image employs visual codes, such as the Pope enthroned, to critique papal power. Understanding this print requires knowledge of 18th-century religious controversies, the history of Jansenism, and the political dynamics within the Catholic Church. It reminds us that art is always entangled with the social conditions of its making. Research into period pamphlets and theological tracts can further illuminate this work's original context and meaning.