Title Page: Desmarets de Saint-Sorlin, L'Office de la Vierge Marie 1645

Claude Mellan created this title page for Desmarets de Saint-Sorlin’s, “L’Office de la Vierge Marie,” using engraving techniques. Mellan, who lived in France during the Baroque era, was known for his unique method of using a single line to create tonal variations. Consider the role of religious texts and imagery during this period. “L’Office de la Vierge Marie” translates to "The Office of the Virgin Mary." Its significance lies in its focus on the Virgin Mary, a central figure in Catholicism, around whom gendered, political and religious tensions constellate. This title page, adorned with cherubic figures and a laurel wreath, acts as a portal. How might we interpret the cherub's gaze? The wreath symbolizes virtue, triumph, and eternity, framing the text within. Mellan’s work invites us to reflect on the intertwined nature of faith, gender, and power in the 17th century. It subtly reinforces the cultural and religious values of the time, asking us to consider whose voices were amplified and whose were marginalized.