Overval op een klooster te Nîmes door de hugenoten, 1567 1570

This is Jean Perrissin's engraving of the Huguenot raid on a monastery in Nîmes, made around 1567. The print is a potent visual document of the French Wars of Religion, a period of intense conflict between Catholics and Protestants. It depicts a chaotic scene of violence. Huguenot soldiers are shown attacking and killing monks within the confines of their monastery. The image creates meaning through sharp lines and dramatic composition, emphasizing the brutality of the attack. The historical context of the Wars of Religion is crucial. The conflict was driven by religious, political, and social tensions. Prints like this served as propaganda, shaping public opinion and solidifying religious identities. Was Perrissin himself Protestant? What did he want viewers to think and feel? To fully understand this artwork, it's important to consider the contemporary chronicles and pamphlets. By studying the work in its original social and institutional context, we can gain insight into the complex dynamics of religious conflict in 16th-century France.