Heilige Bonosus als kluizenaar 1590 - 1619

Editor: Here we have Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert’s engraving, "Heilige Bonosus als kluizenaar," made sometime between 1590 and 1619. The figure's upward gaze gives it such a strong feeling of devotion. What can you tell me about the cultural context that shaped a piece like this? Curator: Well, let's start by noting that this engraving depicts Saint Bonosus, a hermit. The choice to portray him in isolation, engaged in fervent prayer, speaks to the rise of individual piety during the Counter-Reformation. What does it tell us about power when one can directly connect with the divine outside the control of the church? Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. It's like Bonosus is reclaiming agency. Curator: Precisely. His existence as a hermit – his chosen marginalization from societal structures – challenges conventional authority. How might this image speak to contemporary discussions of religious autonomy and the subversion of hierarchical power? Editor: Hmm… So, in today's terms, choosing a solitary spiritual path can also be interpreted as a rejection of organized religion’s potential complicity in systems of oppression? Curator: Exactly. The print encourages us to analyze how religious iconography can be repurposed to endorse empowerment, independence, or to stand in defiance against institutions that perpetuate systemic biases. To further understand the work's historical weight, consider what other engravings from the time depict, especially regarding gender or race, and if similar messages apply. Editor: Thank you! I'm going to have to do some more reading on this. I had no idea an image like this could have so much to say about contemporary issues. Curator: It is in interrogating these images and their embedded narratives that we expand our perception of art and society.