Maaltijd in de Clementijnse Zaal op Witte Donderdag 1838 - 1839

Franciscus Bernardus Waanders made this print, "Meal in the Clementine Hall on Maundy Thursday," using etching techniques. This image depicts a ritual of the papacy in the Vatican: the pope washing the feet of twelve poor men, followed by a meal. The event commemorates Christ's Last Supper and his act of humility in washing the feet of his disciples. Made in the 19th century, in the Netherlands, it reflects a time of significant social and religious change in Europe. The print's style and subject matter position it within a broader tradition of religious art, but here this is being mediated through printmaking, which democratizes imagery and makes it available to a broader public. To fully understand this artwork, we can consult historical records, theological texts, and studies of Vatican rituals. These resources help us interpret the print within its specific religious, political, and social context. The meaning of art depends so much on social context and institutional practice.