Kroning van Maria 1616 - 1657

Paulus Pontius created this engraving, "Coronation of the Virgin," sometime in the first half of the 17th century. The image depicts Mary being crowned as Queen of Heaven by God and Christ, while the Holy Spirit descends as a dove. Pontius lived during the Counter-Reformation, a period when the Catholic Church sought to reaffirm its doctrines and traditions in response to the Protestant Reformation. The veneration of Mary was a key element of Catholic belief, and images like this one served to reinforce her importance within the faith. What strikes me is the emotional aspect of the piece; Mary's demure acceptance of her coronation. Considering the limited roles afforded to women during the 17th century, the idea of female power was often confined to religious contexts. Pontius' engraving participates in this dynamic, offering a potent image of female authority that remains, nevertheless, within strictly defined religious parameters.