Wijwaterbak met engel c. 1677 - 1692

This is Franz Ertinger's "Holy Water Font with Angel," an etching. While the exact date of its creation is unknown, Ertinger was active in the latter half of the 17th century. The print offers a glimpse into the intersection of religious devotion and the dominant social structures of the time. The cherubic figures adorning the holy water font aren't just innocent decorations; they symbolize purity and divine favor, concepts deeply entwined with power dynamics. Positioned at the top and bottom of the scene, they serve as gatekeepers to a spiritual experience mediated through prescribed religious rituals. In the middle ground, a winged figure extracts water from stone. Consider the function of holy water itself – it's meant for purification, a symbolic cleansing of sins, and a reaffirmation of faith within a hierarchical religious framework. Ertinger's work reflects the period's emphasis on religious observance as a means of social control, but also alludes to how the aesthetic and the spiritual life are intertwined.