Ærkeenglen Mikael 1775 - 1779

Louise-Rosalie Hémery made this engraving of the Archangel Michael sometime in the late 18th century. It evokes the way that powerful religious imagery was deployed in France at the time. Religious art had long been part of the French political landscape, especially during the monarchy, however the church's power and wealth made it a target of revolutionary sentiment. While the French Revolution sought to disestablish the church, religious imagery, and especially that of powerful protectors like St. Michael, continued to circulate in popular culture. Hémery, as an engraver, would have been part of a sophisticated network of printmakers and publishers that disseminated images like this to a wide audience. To understand this image further, we might look into the changing relationship between church and state in France at the time, or perhaps examine how religious art was being reimagined through the lens of revolution. Art, as we see here, always reflects the society that produces it.