Hemelvaart van Maria c. 1641 - 1653

This print by de Lacourt depicts the Assumption of Mary and uses engraving to create contrasting tonal effects. It speaks to the Counter-Reformation in the Netherlands. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Catholic Church responded to the Protestant Reformation by reaffirming its doctrines. The visual arts were harnessed to revive Catholic piety, with particular emphasis on the Virgin Mary. The scene depicts Mary rising to heaven surrounded by angels, while below, the apostles gather around her empty tomb. The iconography makes cultural references to the belief in Mary's unique role in salvation history, something that was reaffirmed by the Catholic Church at the time. By studying the history of religious movements and institutional patronage, we can better understand the ways in which art reflects and reinforces prevailing social values.