Madonna met sterrenkroon en rozenkrans op de maansikkel 1488 - 1492

This tiny drypoint print of the Madonna, holding a rosary and standing on a crescent moon with a crown of stars, was made by the Master of the Amsterdam Cabinet in the late 15th century. It's important to understand the role the Catholic Church played in the daily lives of people in the Netherlands at this time, and in the artistic world. This image creates meaning through its references to religious imagery and historical associations with the Virgin Mary. Although the print is small, it gives us insight into the significance of religious symbols, such as the rosary, for people living in the Netherlands during the late 1400s. Historians of art consult inventories of wealth, religious writings, and social histories to build a picture of the context around artworks like this. The meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.