Sculptuur van Maria Onbevlekt Ontvangen 1858

Pierre Joseph Hubert Cuypers made this sketch of the Immaculate Conception, likely sometime in the late 19th century. Cuypers was a towering figure in the Dutch Gothic Revival, an architectural and artistic movement with strong ties to Catholic identity. Looking at this sketch, we might ask what social purpose the image of the Immaculate Conception served at this time, and what cultural conditions made its revival possible. Cuypers was deeply involved in the project of church-building. His work was part of a broader effort to visually reassert Catholicism in the face of Protestant dominance and rising secularism. To understand the nuances of Cuypers' artistic project, we can consult church records, architectural plans, and contemporary publications. These sources shed light on how religious institutions sought to shape public space and visual culture during a period of intense social change. The meaning of art is always contingent on such social and institutional contexts.