Abraham and Isaac on Their Way to Mount Moriah c. 1490 - 1510

Peregrino da Cesena created this engraving of Abraham and Isaac on their way to Mount Moriah sometime between 1475 and 1520. In Renaissance Italy, printmaking was increasingly common, and this small print would have been relatively inexpensive and widely accessible. As such, it is more likely to have been made for a less wealthy, pious audience than a painting of the same subject. Cesena shows Abraham and Isaac in contemporary dress, emphasizing the timeless quality of faith. The artist also includes wood loaded onto a donkey, reminding the viewer of Christ's burden as he made his way to the cross. It is a reminder that even today, a life of faith requires heavy burdens and even greater trust in God. To further understand the significance of this work, we could consider the history of devotional printmaking in Italy, studying how images like this shaped the religious imagination of the time. Art history is at its best when it examines the social life of images.