Parochiaal kruis afkomstig uit Saugues before 1857

This is a photograph of a processional cross from Saugues, France, made by Hippolyte Malègue. We see the corpus of Christ hanging on the cross, as well as details of its elaborate carving. Religious images such as this one were historically commissioned by local parishes, to be displayed and carried during religious ceremonies. They served as both objects of devotion and symbols of community identity. We might ask ourselves what role the Catholic Church played in shaping French culture at the time this photograph was made. Was this area deeply Catholic, or were there other religious influences that shaped its culture? By studying parish records, local histories, and accounts of religious life in the region, we can gain insight into the complex social and institutional forces that shaped the production and reception of this processional cross. In this way, art becomes more meaningful as something contingent on its social and institutional context.