Bebaarde man met een mijter op leest in een boek 1841 - 1910

Léopold Flameng created this print of a bearded man with a mitre reading a book, using etching techniques. The man's attire and the presence of the book hint at religious scholarship, likely in 19th-century Europe, when Flameng was active. The visual codes are clear: the mitre symbolizes authority and knowledge. The rise of secularism and the critique of religious institutions mark this period. Prints like this were widely disseminated; as such, it’s crucial to question its role in either reinforcing or challenging the established social order of the church. Was it commissioned or was it an expression of personal belief? To fully understand this print, we need to dive into the institutional history of religious art, examining patron networks, artistic academies, and the complex interplay between art and faith. This contextual analysis is vital for interpreting the artwork's meaning.