Prayers 1816

Antoine Pierre Mongin made this print, ‘Prayers’, in France at the turn of the nineteenth century. It shows a group of peasants at prayer, with a medieval tower and bridge as a backdrop. The image evokes the picturesque aesthetic then in vogue. Mongin emphasizes the sublimity of nature, the beauty of ruins, and the simple piety of rural folk. But how might we read this imagery in its historical context? The French Revolution, with its brutal suppression of the aristocracy and the church, was fresh in the memory. We might then view ‘Prayers’ as a conservative image. The artist seems to valorize the traditions of the old regime, presenting a romanticized vision of social order. However, it's also possible the image is not inherently conservative. Perhaps it is the expression of a nostalgic desire for peace in a time of great social upheaval. Art historians examine such works through many sources: contemporary reviews, artist biographies, the history of printmaking, and the changing politics of the period. These resources help us to understand the social and institutional forces that shape the making and viewing of art.