The Circumcision c. 1470 - 1480

Israhel van Meckenem created this small, circular engraving titled "The Circumcision" sometime before his death in 1503. Van Meckenem was a prolific printmaker in Germany, a land on the cusp of the Protestant Reformation, and this piece reflects the era's deep engagement with religious narratives. The scene depicts the ritual circumcision of the infant Jesus, a practice rooted in Jewish tradition and theology. Notice how the composition centers not just on the act itself, but also on the reactions and roles of those present. Mary, the mother, stands by with an expression that blends concern and resignation, while other figures, possibly priests or attendants, look on with varying degrees of engagement. Consider how this image positions male religious authority against the backdrop of female experience. The themes of faith, tradition, and identity are all interwoven, prompting us to reflect on the personal and communal meanings embedded in religious practice. This work opens a window onto the complex negotiation of religious and cultural identities in the late medieval period.