Bewening van Christus (Piëta) 1660

Nikolaas van Hoy created this etching of the Bewening van Christus, or Pietà, sometime in the mid-17th century. Here we see the Virgin Mary mourning over the body of Christ, after the crucifixion. The Pietà, meaning ‘pity’ in Italian, is a common subject in Christian art, especially popular during the Baroque era, the time when this etching was made. Religious images played a crucial role in society. They weren't just devotional aids but powerful tools used by the Catholic Church to communicate their teachings to a largely illiterate population. The use of etching, a relatively new and affordable medium, meant that images like this could be widely disseminated, reinforcing religious doctrine and social norms. Van Hoy’s Pietà invites viewers to contemplate not just the suffering of Christ, but also the maternal grief of Mary, fostering a sense of empathy and reinforcing the importance of faith and piety. To truly understand this etching, we can consult historical texts and religious studies. The meaning of art is always shaped by the society and institutions in which it is created.