Intocht in Jeruzalem 1673 - 1695

Nicolas Perelle created this print, ‘Entry into Jerusalem,’ in the 17th century. The image illustrates the Christian gospel story of Jesus’s arrival in Jerusalem, but it also reflects the social and institutional context in which it was made. France in the 1600s was a hierarchical society dominated by the aristocracy and the Catholic Church. Artists depended on these institutions for patronage and were expected to create work that reinforced their power and status. Biblical scenes were therefore a common choice for artists. The print uses visual codes that would have been familiar to audiences at the time: the classical architecture, the idealized landscape, and the orderly composition, all referencing the power of the Roman empire, a society seen as parallel to 17th century France. The artist emphasizes the power of the church. To fully understand the social context of this print, we can use resources such as historical archives and religious studies. Art is always contingent on the social and institutional context in which it is made.