De heilige Franciscus ontvangt de stigmata 1586

Agostino Carracci made this engraving, "The Holy Francis Receives the Stigmata," sometime in the late 16th century. The piece captures Saint Francis of Assisi in a moment of profound spiritual ecstasy. The son of a wealthy merchant, Francis abandoned a life of luxury to embrace poverty and dedicate himself to serving the poor. This engraving offers a window into the complex interplay between religious devotion, personal transformation, and social responsibility. Carracci was working in a society still deeply shaped by religious belief, where the lives of saints served as models for behavior. Francis’s choice to relinquish privilege and identify with the marginalized resonates with ongoing questions about wealth, class, and the moral obligations of the individual. Notice how Carracci has represented Francis caught in a divine moment. Bathed in light, he's in a natural setting that reinforces his humility and connection to the world beyond human artifice. The skull at his feet speaks to the mortality Francis embraced, reminding us of the fleeting nature of earthly life against the promise of spiritual transcendence. It encourages us to look at our own beliefs and societal values.