Penitence, from "The Seven Sacrements" 1767

Lorenzo Zucchi made this print, Penitence, in the 18th century after a painting by Giuseppe Crespi. It depicts the Catholic sacrament of confession, a ritual that was central to social life in much of Europe at the time. Confession, like other sacraments, played a crucial role in shaping the relationship between individuals, the Church, and wider society. The confessional booth itself becomes an important architectural feature of religious life, and Zucchi's rendering invites us to consider the role of religious institutions in shaping social norms and individual behavior in 18th-century Europe. To understand the print fully, we can consult parish records, theological treatises, and social histories. These primary and secondary sources will reveal the complex interplay between art, religion, and society in the early modern period. By situating works like this in their original context, we see how art actively participated in the debates and power struggles of its time.