Interior of the Church of Saint Katherine’s with the Parable of the Mote and the Beam 1525 - 1535

Daniel Hopfer created this etching titled "Interior of the Church of Saint Katherine’s with the Parable of the Mote and the Beam" sometime between the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. Hopfer was a German artist, working at a time of great religious and social change. The print depicts a biblical scene within the elaborate setting of a church. The artist uses the architecture of the church to frame the parable, making it the focal point. The Parable of the Mote and the Beam speaks to themes of hypocrisy and self-awareness. During the Reformation, many artists used biblical stories to comment on the perceived corruption within the Catholic Church. Here, the church becomes the stage for a drama about judgement and self-reflection. To understand this work fully, we need to examine the religious and political context of its time. Art historians consult theological texts, historical records, and contemporary writings to shed light on its meaning, and to place the artwork within a broader social and institutional context.