Et in Arcadia Ego 1622

Guercino painted “Et in Arcadia Ego” in Italy, sometime in the early 17th century, with oil on canvas. The painting depicts two shepherds encountering a skull with the words "Et in Arcadia Ego," which translates to "Even in Arcadia, there am I." At the time, Arcadia was used as a symbolic, poetic place, referring to an idyllic vision of pastoral life. The painting speaks to the ubiquity of death, even in the most beautiful and carefree settings. The Catholic church in Italy was a powerful institution in the 17th century, and the themes of morality and mortality were commonly explored in art. To better understand the role of religious institutions in shaping art production, we can examine patronage records and theological texts. By looking into such records, we come to see that art, in its essence, is contingent on social and institutional contexts.