Kerk 1831 - 1888

Arnoud Schaepkens made this etching of a church using an etching needle and acid on a metal plate, then pressing it onto paper. The image presents a modest church steeple rising above the trees. Schaepkens was working in the Netherlands, a place where the state-sponsored church had long been a point of social tension. In the 19th century, across Europe, church and state were often intimately linked, lending political power to religious institutions. It's interesting to consider how Schaepkens has positioned this church within the landscape. Is it a subtle commentary on the role of religion in Dutch society, perhaps questioning its dominance or advocating for a more integrated existence within the natural world? To understand Schaepkens' intent more fully, we might delve into Dutch social and religious history from the 1800s. Catalogues of the artist's work or historical records of the depicted church could provide further insights.