Dood van Maria 1629

Christoffel van Sichem II created this woodcut titled "Death of Mary". Notice the dominant symbols. The Virgin Mary lies on her deathbed, surrounded by apostles, as her soul ascends to the divine presence above. We see the familiar motif of the "ascension of the soul," an idea that dates back to antiquity, reappearing in various forms across cultures. Here, the soul's ascent is depicted literally, with the Virgin's spirit being carried by angels. Consider how this image, in its vertical structure, mirrors other depictions of spiritual transcendence. The cloud of angels above, pulling the soul upwards, reminds us of earlier Egyptian images of souls carried by deities into the afterlife, or even the later Renaissance paintings of the assumption of Mary. This collective memory and symbolic language tap into our subconscious understanding of life, death, and spiritual liberation. The cyclical progression of this symbol is clear. Across time, it resurfaces and evolves, reflecting the ever-changing emotional and psychological landscape of human belief.