Corpus Christi-processie bij de Mariazuil in München 1850s

Arthur Georg von Ramberg created this monochromatic print of the Corpus Christi procession at the Maria Column in Munich using etching and aquatint techniques. The composition centres on the towering column, a vertical anchor around which the human activity of the procession unfolds. Ramberg masterfully uses light and shadow to direct our gaze. Notice how the light delicately touches the buildings and illuminates the faces of those participating, creating depth within the otherwise muted tones. The architecture provides a structured backdrop, contrasting with the fluidity of the religious ceremony. Through the lens of structuralism, the artwork presents a semiotic landscape: the column signifies spiritual authority, the procession embodies communal devotion, and the cityscape represents the intersection of faith and civic life. This piece doesn't merely depict an event but engages with the very structures of belief and representation that define its cultural context.