Annunciatie c. 1577 - 1634

This is Cornelis Cort’s “Annunciation,” made around 1570. The engraving’s dominant feature is its dramatic interplay of light and shadow, achieved through dense hatching. This contrast creates a sense of otherworldly drama. Structurally, the composition divides the scene into two distinct realms: the divine and the earthly. On the left, the angel emerges from a cloud of deep shadows, while on the right, Mary is depicted in a more structured, domestic space. The linear perspective draws the viewer's eye from the angel, through the beam of light culminating in the dove that is above Mary. Cort uses a semiotic language here, where light signifies divine intervention and the dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit. This challenges the viewer to consider the intersection of the material and the spiritual, questioning fixed notions of space and presence. The act of interpretation then becomes a dynamic process, shaped by our understanding and cultural framework.