Heilige Franciscus van Assisi 1455 - 1503

Curator: We are standing before "Heilige Franciscus van Assisi" a print made by Israhel van Meckenem sometime between 1455 and 1503. The work is currently held here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It's stark, isn’t it? Stripped back to the essential lines. The figure dominates; a lone Franciscan Friar holding a delicate crucifix. His gaze, directed away from the viewer, draws me into a private moment. Curator: Indeed, and the choice of engraving as a medium reinforces that sense of simplicity, yet also the ability to distribute the image. It becomes part of a larger history of the dissemination of religious imagery and devotional practice. Who was accessing and owning it, and how does it affect a devotional connection to this representation of faith? Editor: It speaks volumes about faith and poverty. This portrayal contrasts with the opulence often linked with the church during that era. There is no halo, only the very plain robes of Saint Francis. We feel the gravity of the Church's challenges throughout his own order, in this man's focused glance. The linear patterns evoke the woven fibers of those plain clothes, highlighting an alternative path of living and believing. Curator: Contextually, the rise of the Franciscan order offered an interesting alternative to established monastic traditions and a direct engagement with laypeople, preaching messages of reform. How might that intersect with emerging vernacular art forms? Editor: The very *act* of representation flirts with notions of religious idolatry. Here we find an engagement, albeit restrained, with questions that still preoccupy conversations around contemporary expressions of faith. He holds up a Crucifix; how might queer and decolonial theory intersect in relation to questions around identity? How would gender and race enter into the subject's approach? Curator: Absolutely. When looking at devotional prints from this period, it's key to think about the audience, the function, and the potential role these images played in shaping identity and spiritual experiences. How was this image circulated within specific social and political groups? Editor: What resonates with me is the lasting impact of the choices made by those like Saint Francis in challenging and negotiating authority structures and power. The work itself, although small, asks enduring questions around self, system, and spirit. Curator: Indeed. This engraving serves as a great example of how historical religious imagery reflects shifting power dynamics, patronage systems and beliefs of its age.