Maria slaapt in haar wieg 1629

This engraving of the sleeping Virgin Mary was created by Christoffel van Sichem II, probably in the early 17th century, using woodcut. It illustrates the religious climate of the Dutch Golden Age. The imagery emphasizes the purity of Mary, associating her with celestial beings and divine light, but situating her within an ordinary domestic space. This combination reflects the Protestant values taking root in the Netherlands at the time, in which reformers sought a more direct and personal connection to the divine. We see the sacred brought into the everyday. Van Sichem was a prolific printmaker and bookseller in Amsterdam during a time of religious conflict, and his work reflects an effort to strike a balance between established traditions and new theological interpretations. By studying the printing history of similar images, we can trace the rise of reformation ideas in the Netherlands. Ultimately, we can understand the power of art to navigate cultural change.