Maria als jonge vrouw, door engelen getooid in het bijzijn van Joachim en Anna 1840 - 1905

François de Meersman made this print, "Maria als jonge vrouw, door engelen getooid in het bijzijn van Joachim en Anna" sometime in the 19th century. The image depicts the young Mary being crowned by angels as her parents, Joachim and Anna, look on. These kinds of images circulated widely in 19th-century Europe. They weren't just about religious devotion; they mirrored the era's values, especially regarding women. In 19th-century Europe, institutions like the Church and the family were central. Representations of women often emphasized their purity and their role in upholding social order. This print aligns with that, presenting Mary as the epitome of virtue. Yet, it's crucial to consider how such images shaped societal expectations of women and reinforced traditional power structures. To truly understand such art, we need to look at the culture that produced it. Historical archives, religious texts, and even popular literature of the time can provide insight into the complex interplay between art, belief, and society.