Breviarium Romanum 1606

This is the Breviarium Romanum, a book made by Jan van Keerberghen. Its brown leather cover is stamped with botanical and geometric patterns, and accented with metal clasps and corners. The Breviarium Romanum, a summary of the divine office, was typically used by clergy, monks, and nuns. Its contents were politically charged and often used to dictate how people should think, feel, and act. Consider the role of religious texts like this in shaping societal norms. Who was included and who was excluded? How did such doctrines affect different genders, races, and social classes? Despite its beauty, this book is a reminder of the power structures that defined much of history. It symbolizes how religious institutions influenced personal identity and societal order. It invites us to consider the fine line between spiritual guidance and ideological control, and how these texts can also function as tools of cultural and social formation.