Jozua beveelt de zon en de maan stil te staan 1615

Orazio Borgianni created this print, depicting "Joshua Commanding the Sun to Stand Still", around the turn of the 17th century. This image brings to life a dramatic biblical episode. Joshua, leading the Israelites, commands the sun and moon to halt, allowing his army to secure victory. What does this mean to a contemporary audience? Consider the Counter-Reformation. The Catholic Church sought to reassert its authority amidst the rise of Protestantism. Visual art became a crucial tool for conveying religious narratives and reinforcing Catholic doctrine. Prints like this one, easily disseminated, were perfect for spreading such messages. They were affordable and could be distributed widely. To truly understand this artwork, we can explore the religious and political climate of 17th-century Italy. Researching the patronage of the arts by the Catholic Church and the role of printmaking in disseminating religious ideas would give us a fuller appreciation. Art lives in the world, and its meaning depends on the world around it.