Annunciation c. 18th century

Editor: This is Claude Duflos’s "Annunciation," an undated engraving held at the Harvard Art Museums. The scene is quite busy, full of figures, but Mary's humble posture grounds the composition. What narratives do you see unfolding here? Curator: It’s fascinating to consider this image through a feminist lens. Mary’s acceptance, "fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum" – "let it be done to me according to your word" – is often interpreted as passive obedience. But what if we view it as an active choice, a moment of female agency in a patriarchal structure? Editor: That’s a powerful perspective! I hadn't considered that agency before. Curator: Exactly! How does understanding the social constraints of women in the 17th and 18th centuries reshape your view of her decision, and of Duflos’s representation? Editor: It makes the scene far more complex. I’ll be thinking about this for a while!