Maria met kind en heiligen Anna en Elisabet bij wieg en engel met waterkan bij schaal met water 1518 - 1522

This is Marcantonio Raimondi’s engraving, "Maria met kind en heiligen Anna en Elisabet bij wieg en engel met waterkan bij schaal met water," created in the 16th century. Raimondi was working during a time of significant religious and social change, including the Protestant Reformation. The image depicts the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus, surrounded by Saint Anne and Saint Elizabeth. By situating Mary in the domestic sphere, the artwork subtly emphasizes the significance of women in religious narratives. The engraving captures a tender moment of maternal care while also alluding to the future baptism of Christ. But what does it mean to depict these women in a moment of domesticity? What are the implications of showing female figures as central to the life of the holy family, especially in a time of religious upheaval? It invites us to consider the roles of women in faith, family, and society, and how these have been represented and understood throughout history.