Wonderen van Christus 1578

Hendrick Goltzius created this print of "The Miracles of Christ" in the Netherlands sometime around 1598. Goltzius, as a leading Northern Mannerist, was known for his inventive compositions, and this print is no exception. At its center, we see Christ healing the sick, in the border we can see an intricate series of vignettes. The composition is an argument for faith healing, with an appeal to divine intervention. The central scene is framed by smaller scenes depicting biblical stories and allegorical imagery, reinforcing the idea of Christ as a miracle worker. Prints such as these, which were distributed widely, played an important role during the period of the reformation in shaping popular religious beliefs and in visualizing its claims. Art historians, when considering religious imagery, will often look to religious texts and popular beliefs of the time. By studying the historical context, we can gain a richer understanding of the print's meaning and its intended audience.