Viering van Aswoensdag en Eucharistie in de rooms-katholieke kerk 1724

This etching by Bernard Picart depicts two scenes from a Catholic Ash Wednesday service, as seen in a Dutch church in the 18th century. The top scene shows a priest distributing ashes, symbolizing the beginning of Lent, to a group of kneeling figures. The bottom scene illustrates the distribution of blessed bread, known as the "Pain-Bénit" in French. The artist's attention to detail portrays the solemnity of the religious ceremony and provides viewers with a glimpse into the rituals and customs of Catholic worship during the 18th century. The etching, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, offers a historical perspective on Catholic practice in the Netherlands.