Heilige Odulphus van Brabant before 1650

Frederick Bloemaert created this engraving of Saint Odulphus of Brabant in the 17th century. The print depicts Saint Odulphus, recognisable by his halo, in quiet contemplation with a book. We see the mitre lying discarded to the side. It speaks to a time of religious and political reformations. Brabant, now part of the Netherlands and Belgium, was caught in the crossfire of the reformation and counter-reformation. The print was made not long after the Dutch Revolt, where the Dutch Republic fought for independence from the Spanish Empire, a staunch defender of Catholicism. Bloemaert and his workshop produced prints for both Catholic and Protestant clients. The print of Saint Odulphus then, may speak to this period of religious turbulence as the country negotiated its religious identity. For a fuller understanding, we might explore the social conditions that shaped artistic production at the time. Examining archives and historical texts will enable us to understand the complex interplay between art, religion, and society in the Dutch Golden Age.