Heilige Maria van Egypte als kluizenares 1590 - 1662

This small print shows Saint Mary of Egypt as a hermit, and was made by an anonymous Dutch artist with etching. Mary of Egypt was a prostitute in Alexandria who became a Christian ascetic in the desert. She stands as an example of female repentance. Notice how the artist has depicted her with long hair covering her naked body, with a skull and crucifix as her only possessions. The image draws on visual codes of female beauty while framing it within a religious narrative of sin and redemption. The Dutch Republic was a Protestant nation, but images of Catholic saints like Mary of Egypt circulated freely. It reflected a society undergoing great transformations in the 17th century, where new forms of piety coexisted with a burgeoning commercial culture. Art historians turn to sources such as religious texts, popular literature, and economic data to contextualize images like this. The meaning of art emerges through a rich understanding of social and institutional contexts.