Heilige Familie met Elisabet en Johannes de Doper als kind 1619 - 1675

Lucas Vorsterman I created this print, "Holy Family with Elizabeth and John the Baptist as Children," sometime between 1595 and 1675. The artwork presents a traditional religious scene, but it also reflects the social and cultural values of its time. The inscription dedicates this print to a woman of extraordinary virtue. It suggests the artwork functions as a celebration of female piety and nobility. Vorsterman made this print during the Baroque era, a time when the Catholic Church sought to reaffirm its spiritual authority. Depictions of the Holy Family, like this one, emphasized the importance of family values and religious devotion. Note the intimacy between the figures. How does this closeness evoke feelings of warmth? Consider how Vorsterman’s print reinforces the era’s notions of gender, faith, and family. It invites us to reflect on how these themes intersect within the artwork's historical context.