Biddende H. Augustinus 1608 - 1688

This anonymous print depicts Saint Augustine in prayer. It’s worth thinking about how prints like this functioned in their time and the kind of cultural work they performed. Consider that this image was made in the Netherlands, at a time when Protestantism had taken hold. So the presence of this image tells us about the place of Catholicism within Dutch society. The figure of Augustine, kneeling in piety, reminds viewers of the Catholic tradition, which includes the veneration of saints. At the same time, the print itself, inexpensive and portable, allowed for the mass distribution of devotional images in a way that was distinctively modern. We see the image’s subject and the image’s medium working together to carve out a specific place for Catholic worship. It’s a rich example of the ways in which art mediates history and embodies social tension. To find out more, look into the history of religion and print culture in the Netherlands.