Visitatie van Maria bij Elisabet 1510 - 1515

Marcantonio Raimondi rendered this engraving, *The Visitation*, immortalizing the biblical encounter between Mary and Elizabeth. The women reach for each other, hands outstretched in a symbolic gesture of recognition, of acceptance. This motif echoes through art history, recall ancient Roman depictions of alliances, where clasped hands sealed agreements. Note the landscape: it is not merely a backdrop, but a vessel of collective memory. These mountains, trees, and structures remind me of similar depictions found in tapestries from the Middle Ages. Observe the foreground, where a dog rests near discarded game pieces: a loaded symbol of loyalty, companionship, and domesticity. The game pieces, reminiscent of ancient Roman mosaics, also suggests chance and fate, ideas that are central to the human condition. Here, Raimondi masterfully weaves a rich tapestry of cultural and religious memory, reminding us that artistic expression is a continuous, evolving dialogue with the past.