Religions and Religion 1888

Henri Fantin-Latour created this lithograph, titled "Religions and Religion," during a period of intense social and intellectual change in France. Latour was working in a time when the role of religion in society was being questioned, influenced by emerging scientific thought and philosophical debates. In this print, Latour engages with the complex relationship between institutionalized religion and individual spirituality. The artist envisions a world of religious experience that seems less about prescribed dogma and more about a personal connection to the divine or transcendent. Figures float ethereally, surrounded by a bearded man. These figures embody different facets of faith. Latour seems to be asking whether true faith lies in organized religion or in individual spiritual experiences. As you reflect on this image, consider how Latour navigates the tension between tradition and modernity. Does he offer a critique of established religious institutions, or does he seek to find common ground between different forms of religious expression? Perhaps it's both.