Mirakuleus beeld van O.-L.-V. te Scherpenheuvel / Image miraculeuse de N.-D. à Montaigu / De Godzalige huiszegen / La Bénédiction du Ménage 1833 - 1911

This print in the Rijksmuseum was made by Brepols & Dierckx zoon, though the date is unknown. The composition is divided into two distinct halves, each presenting a religious scene with accompanying text. On the left, we see an image of the Virgin Mary elevated on a tree-like structure, while the right panel depicts the crucifixion. The artwork employs a semiotic structure where the tree and cross function as central signs. The tree is the axis mundi, a symbol of connection between the earthly and divine realms. Mary, atop the tree, disrupts the natural order, challenging our understanding of verticality and hierarchy. The cross, with the body of Christ, destabilizes notions of power and suffering, creating a complex sign of faith. These images engage with cultural codes around religion and domesticity. The contrast of the tree and the cross emphasizes the duality of salvation, both divine and earthly. It is a visual play that invites us to consider the artwork’s arrangement of signs and how these challenge fixed meanings and values within religious representation.