Hemelvaart van Maria 1590 - 1622

Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert created this small engraving, “Hemelvaart van Maria,” or “The Ascension of Mary,” in the Netherlands at an unknown date. The print participates in a long history of representing the Virgin Mary as the ideal of feminine virtue and piety, and situates her within complex theological and social frameworks. The image presents us with a gendered hierarchy: Mary ascends to heaven, surrounded by angels, while the male apostles gaze upwards in awe. This moment reinforces the idea of ​​Mary as an intercessor, a bridge between the earthly and the divine, a powerful yet submissive figure. Consider how this image might have shaped the experiences and expectations of women in the Catholic tradition. How does the emphasis on Mary’s purity and obedience resonate with the lived realities of women across different social strata? Through its detailed imagery and symbolic language, this engraving invites us to reflect on the intertwined threads of faith, gender, and social order in the visual culture of the period. The quiet emotional intensity of the scene allows us to consider the personal and collective dimensions of religious belief.