Christus verschijnt aan Maria Magdalena en de Emmaüsgangers 1700

Laurens Scherm created this print showing Christ appearing to Mary Magdalene and the travelers to Emmaus sometime around the turn of the 18th century in the Netherlands. The image speaks to the central role of the church and its iconography in the Dutch Republic. The population had become wealthy through trade and its attendant social structures. The church was a powerful institution that shaped society’s perception of itself through imagery and public gatherings. We can see Christ rendered in a classical style, which was becoming popular in Dutch art. This print is reminiscent of earlier paintings of religious scenes but reproduced for a wider audience. It reflects a time when religious art was a tool to instruct and reinforce social values. Historical research into the religious, economic, and artistic context helps us appreciate how art both reflected and influenced Dutch society.