The Visitation in a Woody Landscape 1645 - 1684

This is an engraving of the Visitation in a Woody Landscape made by an anonymous artist. Here, the biblical scene unfolds not in a grand cathedral or domestic interior, but within the tangled depths of a forest. The unexpected shift of scenery prompts us to reconsider traditional narratives around female encounters in a patriarchal religious context. Mary’s visit to Elizabeth becomes less about divine decree and more about female solidarity in a natural, ungoverned space. The landscape itself, teeming with diverse flora and fauna, mirrors the complex and vibrant roles women hold, often unacknowledged. The choice of the forest— historically a place of refuge, mystery, and resistance—suggests an alternative narrative of empowerment, as does the absence of male figures, emphasizing women's experiences and their support systems during times of change and uncertainty. How might this natural backdrop redefine these women, and what does it evoke in our contemporary understanding of faith, identity, and autonomy?