Rouwende Maria (Mater Dolorosa) 1660

Jan van Troyen made this print, *Rouwende Maria*, in the Netherlands during the 17th century. The image is part of a larger bound collection of prints, making this Maria a mass-produced image rather than a unique painting. During this period, the Catholic Church commissioned and distributed devotional images like this one to reinforce religious doctrine and inspire piety among believers. These images often focused on the suffering of Mary, as a way to evoke empathy and encourage identification with the Church. The "Mater Dolorosa," or sorrowful mother, was a popular subject as the Catholic Church encouraged emotional displays of faith and mourning as a way to express their faith. Studying the original commission and distribution of prints like these gives us a fascinating insight into the culture of 17th century Netherlands, and the complex relationship between art, religion, and society. Resources like ecclesiastical records can shed light on the network of production and consumption that gave this image meaning.