Monniken en nonnen schuilen onder de mantel van Maria before 1620

This is a small engraving made around 1600 by the Flemish artist, Johan Wierix. It shows the Virgin Mary protecting monks and nuns under her cloak. The image speaks to the fraught religious climate of the period. This was a time of intense conflict between Catholics and Protestants, when many sought refuge in the perceived stability of the Catholic Church, and the protection of the Virgin Mary. The inscription at the bottom, ‘Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel’, refers to the Carmelite order, which experienced renewed popularity at this time. Visual codes such as Mary’s crown and the angels holding a wreath above her head reinforce her elevated status. Wierix was a prolific printmaker in Antwerp, a city that remained a Catholic stronghold during the Reformation. These kinds of images played a vital role in reaffirming Catholic identity. To understand this artwork better, we can investigate the history of the Carmelite order, and the social dynamics of Antwerp during the early modern period. This approach allows us to appreciate the complex social and institutional contexts that shape artistic production.