Madonna in de wolken 1581 - 1599

This print of the Madonna and Child was made by an anonymous artist. It is full of complex ideas about motherhood and divinity in society. Let’s consider the historical associations conjured by the image. The setting of the Virgin Mary and Child in the clouds references heavenly, divine status. The halo around Mary’s head and the cherubic angels surrounding mother and child create an ethereal, devotional scene. These artistic and cultural codes borrow from the traditional visual language of Catholicism. It's highly probable that this piece was created in a European Catholic country. The print would have circulated widely, propagating these important religious and social ideals. To understand it better, the art historian might investigate the social and political context of devotional imagery in the period. What role did the church play in shaping artistic production? How did images of the Holy Family reinforce social norms around family and motherhood? Art’s meaning is always contingent on these social and institutional contexts.