Genezing van twee blinden c. 1670 - 1706

Antoine Trouvain created this print, ‘The Healing of the Blind’, in France in the late 17th or early 18th century. It depicts a miraculous episode from the New Testament. Yet it is also an image shaped by the religious institutions of its time. Prints like these played a vital role in disseminating religious imagery. They made biblical scenes accessible to a wider audience, reinforcing the Church’s teachings. The composition, with its dramatic lighting and expressive figures, creates an emotional connection with the viewer, encouraging faith. The architecture and clothing, however, reflect a distinctly European setting far removed from the historical reality of the Bible. To truly understand this print, we need to consider the history of religious art, the role of the print market, and the dynamics of faith and representation in early modern France. By exploring these resources, we can appreciate how art is always shaped by the social and institutional context in which it is created.