The Annunciation 1430

This is Robert Campin’s, The Annunciation, painted in oil sometime in the first half of the 15th century. The painting depicts the angel Gabriel visiting Mary to announce that she will be the mother of Jesus. Made in modern-day Belgium, this painting would have served a specific function for the church. Consider how its naturalistic style might have helped viewers identify with the story. Rather than using a strictly symbolic visual language, Campin represents the figures in a recognizably domestic setting. Note the way Mary is reading, calmly, in her room. Does this make the scene more relatable? How might it inspire personal devotion? Art historians often consider how paintings like this one functioned within the religious and social institutions of the time. By consulting church records, personal letters, and other primary source documents, we can get a better sense of what this artwork meant to its original audience.