Visitatie 1560 - 1600

This engraving of the Visitation was made by Johann Sadeler I. in the late 16th century. We see Mary and Elizabeth greeting each other, hands clasped, embodying the anticipation of the births of Christ and John the Baptist. This meeting is a powerful emblem of recognition and affirmation. The motif of the embrace carries deep emotional and cultural weight. Consider its echoes in antiquity, where clasped hands signified agreements, alliances, and farewells on Roman tombstones. Across time, this gesture transforms, reappearing in medieval depictions of peace and reconciliation. It is a visual language of connection, deeply embedded in our collective memory. In this Visitation, the embrace transcends a simple greeting. It is charged with a divine recognition, a subconscious acknowledgment of the sacred roles these women will play. This image engages us on a profound level, tapping into our innate understanding of compassion, hope, and the enduring power of human connection.