Stigmatisatie van de Heilige Franciscus 1581 - 1599

This is an anonymous etching, depicting "The Stigmatization of Saint Francis," printed on paper. This image captures a pivotal moment in the life of Saint Francis, whose devotion was said to be so profound that he received the stigmata, the wounds of Christ, on his own body. Consider the vulnerability of the kneeling Francis, his face upturned in a moment of intense spiritual communion. This depiction occurred during a time when the Catholic Church significantly influenced the cultural and social lives of Europeans. The artist emphasizes the personal, embodied experience of faith at a time when the church was negotiating its power with its followers. The image invites a dialogue about how religious narratives shape individual identity, and about how artists contribute to these narratives. The anonymous nature of the artist leaves us to ponder the role of the individual versus collective belief in the creation and dissemination of such potent imagery. The print also gives an intimate look at one's spirituality and how it intersects with faith.