Altaar met hemelvaart van de Heilige Maagd before 1643

Abraham Bosse created this engraving called "Altar with the Ascension of the Virgin" during the 17th century, a time of religious conflict and artistic innovation. Bosse, as an engraver, played a key role in disseminating visual ideas during this period. The engraving presents a scene of religious ecstasy, yet it's framed within a rigid, architectural structure, reflecting the intertwining of faith and societal order. The ascension of the Virgin Mary, surrounded by adoring figures, is not just a depiction of divine intervention, but also a statement on the idealized role of women within the Catholic Church. This piece prompts us to consider how religious institutions shape and control the narrative around gender. Here, the Virgin Mary ascends. Her body language and the surrounding cherubs evoke a sense of otherworldly grace. The work invites us to reflect on how women's bodies have historically been situated within the context of the sacred.