Madonna Lactans, from Enchiridon poeticum 1515

Hans Baldung created this woodcut, Madonna Lactans, as part of a book of poetry. The image presents the Virgin Mary nursing the infant Christ, surrounded by swirling clouds. Produced in Germany during the early 16th century, this image reflects a period of religious and social upheaval. Baldung, working during the Reformation, navigates the changing role of religious imagery. His Madonna is both sacred and human, a powerful depiction of maternal care. Consider the way the print’s circulation within a book influences its reception. The book format allows for a more intimate and personal encounter with the divine, shifting away from the grand scale of church altarpieces. To truly understand this work, we must look into the history of book production, the theological debates of the time, and Baldung's own artistic development. These resources help us understand the complex interplay between art, religion, and society.