Christ and The Sheep Shed - Social and Political Implications

Social and Political Implications

A common misconception of the reformation is that it was purely a religious affair. This is a false interpretation. The inquiry of artwork, such as “Christ and the Sheep Shed”, provides clarification of the spread of ideas and change of religious thought into political and social concerns. For instance, his woodcut “Peasant Holiday” further depicts his feelings on the oppression of the peasantry. In it, the dominant classes are violently attacking the peasants with swords, while the women try to intercept. The perpetual use of the peasantry in religious, social and political matters shows the interconnection of the three. The political and moral upheaval that Germany faced as a result of the reformation is seen in the German Peasants' War. Many feared an overthrow of the existing social order; Barthel’s pieces of art facilitated this as he often reflected the oppression of the peasantry and the advocation of uprising against the elite. More people were became concerned with politics and therefore the interest in pamphlets grew. Consequently, so did the proportion of learned people and literacy. Many of the criticisms made in these pamphlets, accompanied by woodcuts, were against Church hierarchy and predominantly towards the Pope. He was portrayed as a demon, the anti-Christ, a thief, and a hoarding rich-man. However, many others were targeted in a negative religious aspect as well. Such people were economic figures. Attacking the sale of indulgences and monopolies on the church, an artist depicted a merchant marking up prices in the sale of these indulgences. In this, the artist was arguing for the return of order and morality to the Catholic Church. A similar trend it seen in the Sheep Shed woodcut. Though it is intended as a religious piece, it demonstrates pertinent matters of society. Firstly, its effect on society reveals the influential ability that common artists had over popular opinion. Artists such as the Beham brothers and Georg Pencz created paintings and woodcuts that were widely distributed, making statements about the mood of the reformation. Secondly, that these artists were questioned in trial about their feelings about Christ shows the fear that authorities had about their influence on society. Their ejection from Nuremberg after the trial only asserts their artistic fortitude. Also what needs to be considered is that these artists were trying to make a livelihood. In 1527, after returning to Nuremberg following his expulsion, Barthel left permanently to become a court painter to the Catholic dukes in Munich. This suggests that his religious beliefs were irrelevant to his need for income. Regardless of the purpose or sentiment of his or any artists work, the important matter is whether or not the public reacted to it, and clearly many did. Lastly, a social impact of reformation art was the increase in entrepreneurship; many people opened print shops and publishing industries because there was an increased demand for pamphlets and propaganda. This caused much social tension and economic changes with the increase in wealth. This affected the size and function of the area which consequently secularized motives of achievement.