H. Franciscus ontvangt de stigmata 1620

This engraving by Lucas Vorsterman I depicts Saint Francis receiving the stigmata, sometime in the 17th century. Vorsterman was working in an era marked by Counter-Reformation ideals, where religious art was instrumental in reaffirming Catholic doctrine. Here, Francis's identity as a devoted follower is emphasized through the miraculous reception of Christ's wounds. But there’s something unsettling here - Francis seems to swoon under the weight of the divine, while an angel hovers above him, almost menacing with its cross. The artist shows us the very moment of transformation, but the emotional landscape is complex. Is it pain, or ecstasy? Perhaps the image suggests that true faith demands a surrender of the self, even if that surrender is terrifying. How might we understand experiences that demand the dissolution of one’s selfhood?