Staande Madonna op de maansikkel before 1637

Cornelis Bloemaert created this print, Staande Madonna op de maansikkel, using engraving techniques. Prints like these were more affordable and widely accessible than paintings. Bloemaert was a Catholic artist working in the Netherlands, a region undergoing religious reformation in the 17th century. Here we see the Virgin Mary as the Queen of Heaven, standing on a crescent moon, surrounded by stars and angelic figures. This imagery comes from the Book of Revelation and reinforces the Catholic Church’s reverence for the Virgin Mary. It also signals resistance against the Protestant reformers, who were critical of what they saw as the idolatry of Catholic art. The Latin inscription further underscores the Church's teachings on the Immaculate Conception. Artists like Bloemaert played a crucial role in visually reaffirming Catholic doctrine during a period of religious conflict. Through careful analysis of these images, aided by textual and historical sources, we can better understand the complex interplay between art, religion, and society.