Portret van paus Leo XIII 1880

This print of Pope Leo XIII was made by Frans Lauwers, who lived from 1854 to 1931. Depicting the Pope, it speaks to the powerful position of the Catholic Church in European social and political life. The image creates meaning through its visual codes of power and authority. Notice how Pope Leo XIII is depicted: he is dressed in ceremonial robes and seated on an ornate throne, symbols of his high office. The cross next to him alludes to religious power, while the patterns in the background suggest wealth. This is a formal portrait, designed to project an image of strength and tradition. The artwork can be understood in the context of the late 19th century, a time of great change and upheaval in Europe. The Catholic Church was struggling to maintain its authority in the face of secularism and new political ideologies. We can use documentary resources from this time to understand better the relationship between the Church and the state, and between religious and secular authority. The meaning of art always depends on this wider institutional context.