Hemelvaart van Maria 1669 - 1748

Giovanni Girolamo Frezza created this print, Hemelvaart van Maria, sometime between 1671 and 1753 using engraving techniques. During the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe, religious art was not just about faith, it was deeply intertwined with power, politics, and social norms. Here, we see Mary ascending, surrounded by angels, leaving behind a group of figures, presumably apostles. The male figures below look into the sky. Their garments, the composition, and the idealized figures reflect a very specific vision of holiness, one that was carefully constructed by the Catholic Church. While ostensibly about spiritual transcendence, it also reinforces a strict hierarchy: divine figures above and mortals below. Consider how gender operates here. Mary, in her ascent, embodies purity and grace, yet she remains within a patriarchal structure. This image invites us to reflect on how women’s bodies and stories have historically been used to convey complex messages about power, salvation, and societal expectations.