The Annunciation 1540s

Léonard Limosin created this print of ‘The Annunciation’ during the vibrant, transformative years of the French Renaissance. The image depicts the biblical scene where the angel Gabriel informs Mary that she will conceive and bear the son of God. During the 16th century, religious subjects like the Annunciation were frequently depicted in art. But while such images often reinforced traditional ideas about women, Limosin’s print also quietly pushes against the grain. Mary appears both thoughtful and strong, qualities which challenge conventional passive representations of women. Limosin was working during a time of religious and social upheaval, and his rendering of Mary can be interpreted as a commentary on the changing roles of women and shifting spiritual understanding. The print invites us to reflect on the agency of women in religious narratives, and the complex negotiation between tradition and progress that characterized the Renaissance era.