Processie met monstrans 1758 - 1806

Jean-Baptiste Lucien made this print, Processie met monstrans, using etching. Here we see a religious procession, likely in France. It could have been made anytime between the late 1700s and the early 1800s. The print depicts a Catholic procession, with clergy carrying a monstrance, a vessel used to display the Eucharist. The faithful kneel in reverence, seeking blessings. This image encapsulates the powerful role of the Church in European society. Religious institutions were not just spiritual centers but wielded significant social and political influence, shaping cultural norms and often reinforcing existing power structures. Lucien’s print invites us to consider how religious rituals like processions served to solidify social cohesion and reinforce religious authority. To understand this print more fully, we might explore archival materials such as church records, local histories, and accounts of religious practices. By situating art within the broader social and institutional context of its creation, we can gain a deeper appreciation.