Hemelvaart van Maria 1830

Jean Bosq created this print, "Hemelvaart van Maria," in the first half of the 19th century. During this time, religious art often served to reinforce societal norms and moral values. Bosq’s image depicts the Virgin Mary’s ascent into heaven, surrounded by adoring figures. Traditionally, depictions like this emphasized Mary's purity and submissive role, but I think we can read other elements here. The figures supporting her seem to propel her upwards. They represent a community lifting up one of their own. The gaze of the surrounding figures suggests that collective admiration is what allows for one woman’s transcendence. It is interesting to consider how such images impacted perceptions of women during that era. Did they inspire a sense of spiritual possibility, or did they reinforce the idea that female virtue was the path to salvation? This print invites us to reflect on the complex interplay between religious narratives and the lived experiences of women in the 19th century. It calls into question how women’s identity was shaped by both earthly constraints and heavenly aspirations.