Canonisatie van enkele heiligen in de Sint Pieter te Rome, 1712 1722

Bernard Picart created this detailed etching of the Canonization of several saints in Saint Peter's, Rome, in 1712. Picart, who would later become famous for his engravings, captured not just the architectural grandeur of the event, but also the social and political theater of the Catholic Church. The canonization process was, and still is, deeply embedded in issues of identity and power. Saints, often emerging from marginalized or oppressed communities, are elevated, in a sense, to represent and advocate for them within the church. Yet, the selection and recognition of these figures could also be seen as a way for the Church to exert control, reinforcing certain narratives while suppressing others. How many women do you see represented? How many people of color? This image invites us to reflect on the complex interplay between faith, identity, and institutional power, and to question whose stories are being told, and whose are being left out.