The Holy Family with St. Anne, The Young Baptist, and his Parents 

Jacob Jordaens painted "The Holy Family with St. Anne, The Young Baptist, and his Parents," an oil on canvas, during the height of the Baroque period in Flanders. At a time when the Catholic Church was reeling from the Protestant Reformation, art became a crucial tool for reaffirming religious doctrine. Jordaens, like many of his contemporaries, embraced this role, creating works that were not only visually stunning but also deeply symbolic. Look closely. Notice how the figures, bathed in warm light, are rendered with a naturalism that emphasizes their humanity. The Virgin Mary, St. Anne, and the others are not presented as ethereal beings, but as people with whom the viewer can identify. This emphasis on the human element is characteristic of Baroque art, but it also speaks to Jordaens' own beliefs about the importance of family and community. By depicting the Holy Family in such a relatable way, he invites us to consider the importance of these values in our own lives. The emotional power of the painting draws us in.