Madonna op de maansikkel c. 1514 - 1517

Lucas van Leyden created this woodcut of the Virgin and Child in the Netherlands in the early sixteenth century. It presents the Madonna standing on a crescent moon, surrounded by a halo of light and cherubic faces. The image participates in a longer tradition of Marian devotion, which was deeply embedded in the social and religious life of the time. The crescent moon evokes the Immaculate Conception and connects Mary to ancient symbols of purity and light. Van Leyden's choice of printmaking, a relatively new medium, allowed for wider distribution of the image and therefore broadened participation in that devotion. As a consequence, the image’s meaning could be mediated by those that shared it. Art historians can research the period's religious practices, popular beliefs, and the print market to better understand the cultural significance of this modest, yet powerful, work.