Heilige bij een muur in een berglandschap 17th century

This woodcut of a saint in a mountain landscape was made by the Monogrammist HCVS. Although the date of the artwork is unknown, the setting of the print evokes the world of late medieval pilgrimage and the rise of popular piety in Northern Europe. The figure holds a book and a cross and is dressed in the garb of a Catholic bishop, suggesting the importance of the Church as a cultural institution during this period. The saint’s halo and the mountainous backdrop may symbolize the spiritual journey of the Christian believer. The village scene in the background is suggestive of the close relationship between the church and the layperson in village life. Prints like these were likely very popular at the time. It is important to understand the socio-economic conditions that shaped the rise of printmaking as a new industry that helped spread images and ideas more widely than before. The historian can use sources such as church records, economic surveys, and studies of popular culture to understand the impact of the print on its original audience.