St. Anne (copy) 1511 - 1600

This color woodcut of Saint Anne, a copy of an original by Hans Baldung, dates back to the 16th century. Baldung, working in Germany during the Reformation, was deeply engaged with the spiritual and social upheavals of his time. Here, we see Saint Anne, the mother of Mary, alongside Mary and the infant Jesus. The depiction is more than a simple religious scene; it reflects the period's intense focus on familial and spiritual lineage. Anne’s central role emphasizes the importance of female figures within religious narratives, offering a powerful, if subtle, statement on women’s spiritual authority. The choice of a woodcut, a more accessible medium, suggests that the work was intended for broader distribution, possibly as a tool for personal devotion. This small artwork invites us to consider the intimate connections between faith, family, and identity during a time of great change.