Wonderbaarlijke verschijning tijdens religieuze bijeenkomst 1719

Bernard Picart created this engraving, "Wonderbaarlijke verschijning tijdens religieuze bijeenkomst," in the early 18th century. This was a period marked by significant religious and political tensions in Europe. The print depicts a religious gathering where a miraculous event seems to be unfolding. But the scene is framed by portraits and allegorical figures, complicating any simple reading of faithful piety. The crowd's varied reactions, from awe to skepticism, hint at the complex relationship between faith and reason during the Enlightenment. Picart, who converted from Catholicism to Protestantism, was deeply interested in religious practices and rituals, particularly where state power and religious ecstasy meet. His personal experiences and beliefs might have influenced his critical yet nuanced portrayals. The artist uses the print to ask us what it means to witness the divine, and perhaps more importantly, who gets to decide what is truly miraculous.