Heilige Agnes zit op rots in landschap

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso midden, gestempeld: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

**Heilige Agnes zit opts in landschap**Saint Agnes Sits on a Rock in Landscape) is a delicate lithography by Belgian artist Jean Danguy created in 1895. Danguy (1851–1930), a skilled printmaker active in Brussels, specialized in religious and allegorical subjects, often evoking a sense of quiet devotion. Here, Saint Agnes—a third-century martyr revered for her purity and faith—is depicted perched thoughtfully on a rock amid a serene landscape,izing her steadfastness amid persecution. The intimate scale (137 × 223 mm) invites close contemplation, much like a personal devotional print from the fin-de-siècle era. Lithography, Danguy's preferred medium, was a revolutionary 19th-century technique using greasy crayon on limestone to produce nuanced tones and fine lines, bridging painting and mass reproduction. This allowed artists like Danguy to distribute intricate imagery widely, reflecting the era's growing interest in spiritual themes amid Belgium's Catholic revival and the Symbolist movement's emphasis on inner mysticism. The print's verso bears a collector's mark (Lugt 2228), linking it to esteemed provenance from historic European auctions, underscoring its value among connoisseurs. This work captures a moment of contemplative grace, offering visitors a window into late 19th-century piety and the artistry of printmaking's golden age.