Sheltering Strangers, from The Seven Acts of Mercy c. 1534

Georg Pencz's engraving, "Sheltering Strangers," now at the Art Institute of Chicago, presents a scene rich with symbolic weight, distilled into a circular format. A haloed figure welcomes a traveler into a modest dwelling, embodying the Christian virtue of hospitality. This act of sheltering finds echoes across time, from ancient Greek traditions of Xenia, where hospitality was a sacred duty, to countless artistic depictions of compassionate saints offering refuge. Here, consider the gesture of the woman extending her arm; it resurfaces through history, linking disparate cultural expressions of empathy. Such motifs evolve, shaped by collective memory and the subconscious. The emotional resonance of offering shelter is a primal response, engaging viewers on a profound level. This visual vocabulary, passed down through generations, connects us to a shared human experience, reminding us of the cyclical nature of history and the enduring power of compassion.