Christus geneest de waterzuchtige man before 1732

Gabriel Huquier created this print of Christ healing the man with dropsy in the 18th century. The image depicts a scene from the Gospel of Luke, where Jesus heals a man suffering from an accumulation of fluid. Huquier was French, but the print is in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, which reflects the religious tensions of the time. France was a Catholic country, but the Netherlands was a Protestant country, and this print may have been made for a Dutch audience that was interested in biblical stories. Also, during this time, The Dutch Republic experienced an economic flourishing, that could have incentivised Huquier to sell his prints there. The print is a reminder of the power of faith and the importance of helping those in need. As an art historian, it's interesting to research what role the church played in helping the sick and poor. We might also consider what other kinds of imagery were being produced in France and the Dutch Republic during this time.