Maagd Maria en het Christuskind 1825 - 1883

Theodoor Schaepkens made this print of the Virgin Mary and Christ Child in the Netherlands, likely sometime in the mid-19th century. Schaepkens, who also worked as a church restorer, was deeply involved in the Gothic Revival, a movement that looked to the art and architecture of the Middle Ages for inspiration. Here, the artist references earlier depictions of the Madonna and Child, but it’s important to remember that religious art in the Netherlands had a complex history. The Protestant Reformation in the 16th century led to the widespread destruction of Catholic imagery. By Schaepkens's time, the relationship between church and state was a matter of ongoing political debate. Artists often had to navigate institutional expectations and religious sensitivities. To fully understand this print, we can consult historical archives and religious studies to better understand the visual culture of the period. This helps us appreciate the role of art as a reflection of broader social and religious contexts.