Maria op haar sterfbed omringd door rouwende volgelingen 1612

Pieter Feddes van Harlingen rendered this artwork, titled 'Maria op haar sterfbed omringd door rouwende volgelingen' or 'Mary on her deathbed surrounded by mourning followers', through etching. Here, Mary lies in repose, encircled by sorrowing figures, their grief palpable. Above, ethereal figures suggest divine presence, a common motif in depictions of Mary's death. Note, however, how such a depiction hearkens back to the classical themes of mourning, seen in ancient sarcophagi, where processions of lamenting figures surround the deceased, a potent symbol across cultures and epochs. Consider the halo, a symbol of holiness, here marking Mary as a sacred figure. Yet, the halo itself evolves, from a simple disc in early Christian art to the radiant aureoles of the Renaissance. It seems to tap into the archetypal imagery of divine light, present in sun gods of antiquity, a visual echo resonating through history. Such imagery plays on our collective memory, stirring deep-seated emotions tied to loss, reverence, and the eternal hope of redemption.