Engel beschermt een kind tegen het kwaad 1840

Joseph von Führich created this print called 'Angel protecting a child from evil,' its date is unknown. Führich was a devout Catholic, and his religious beliefs deeply influenced his artistic production during the 19th century. The print shows an angel with a sword raised, shielding a child from an allegorical figure representing evil. Führich was part of the Nazarene movement, who aimed to revive religious art with a sense of moral purity, during a period of social upheaval. These artists sought to return to the sincerity and spirituality associated with the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance. Führich’s prints would have been aimed at instilling moral values and religious devotion. In doing so, this work offers a window into the cultural and religious beliefs of 19th-century Europe, reflecting both a longing for a simpler, more virtuous past, and a negotiation of contemporary social issues. While aesthetically pleasing, it invites us to reflect on the historical narrative and the cultural values that it embodies.