Maria bezwijmt en wordt ondersteund door Johannes de Evangelist en een vrouw 1683 - 1733

Bernard Picart created this red chalk drawing titled 'Maria Bezwijmt en Wordt Ondersteund Door Johannes de Evangelist en een Vrouw'–'Mary Faints, Supported by John the Evangelist and a Woman'–sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The image depicts a moment of intense emotion from the New Testament, capturing the Virgin Mary fainting, presumably at the foot of the cross. This highly staged scene gives us insight into the theatricality of religious expression in the Dutch Republic. During this time, the Netherlands witnessed a flourishing of artistic interpretation of biblical narratives, reflecting a society deeply engaged with religious themes. Yet while this image is overtly religious, it also speaks to the changing status of artists in the early modern period. To truly understand Picart's work, we need to explore the visual culture of his time, examining contemporary religious beliefs and the social role of art. These kinds of historical resources are crucial for interpreting art as a reflection of its time.