Abstract
Europe has experienced a great epidemic, namely the bubonic plague or the Black Death, at around XIII to XVIII centuries. Mormando and Worchester note that this plague marked a major change in Europe, that is the shift of the theocentric Middle Ages towards the anthropocentric Renaissance and Enlightenment. The works of art appeared in that century showed the shift clearly. There are two interesting notes regarding this. First, the artwork that originally depicted God's mercy through the saints shifted towards depicting human beauty. Second, the human beauty contains elements of hope and healing for the epidemic. This past experience can be a reflection of the present, during the Covid-19 pandemic. This article will discuss art in the era of the Covid-19 pandemic compared to art in the era of the Black Death epidemic. Has art during this pandemic brought hope and healing? How has the shift in art been due to the pandemic? In handling the pandemic, various parties have made many contributions to overcome the crisis, starting from the health, economic, social and political fields. Art is expected to give contributions either. The big contribution of art in the pandemic era, according to Mormando, is to carry out its function as a spirituali remedi. Society not only needs physical and economic healing, but also needs hope that gives spiritual healing. The arts of hope and healing relates to religiosity and humanism.
Keywords: Black Death, Theocentrism, Anthropocentrism, spiritual remedy, Covid-19