Madonna met Christuskind in de wolken 1618 - 1655

This is Cornelis Schut’s etching of the “Madonna and Child in the Clouds,” which was made sometime between 1610 and 1655. Schut, a Flemish artist, worked in a world where the Catholic Church was trying to reaffirm its spiritual authority through the visual arts. Here, Mary, as the Madonna, is not just a mother but the queen of heaven, crowned and radiant. She offers her son, but also presents herself, almost asking, "What do you see when you look at me?" Consider the weight of her role. Mary is at once maternal and divine, a complex intersection of human and symbolic identities. How does an image like this shape the experience and expectations of women? The picture embodies the hopes, fears, and the prescribed roles of women in a society grappling with religious and social change. It’s a delicate interplay between power, vulnerability, and faith.