Annunciatie 1632 - 1657

Jean Couvay created this print titled, Annunciation, sometime between 1600 and 1663. The image captures the moment when the angel Gabriel informs Mary that she will conceive and bear the son of God. Prints like these circulated widely in the 17th century. Consider how the notion of divine intervention is portrayed here. The angel is masculine in form, kneeling before a very young and demure Mary, who averts her gaze. The scene reinforces the idea of female submission to a higher, male authority. The male God watches from above. The Annunciation is a moment heavy with social and political implications for the status and expectations of women. Couvay's work invites reflection on the narratives that continue to shape our understanding of gender and power. The image asks us to consider whose stories are told, and how these stories inform both our spiritual and earthly existence.