The Coronation of the Virgin

Art Historical Context

Christoffel Jegher woodcut *The Coron of the Virgin*, around 1635, a timeless Christian subject which the Virgin Mary is by Christ or attendant. Working on cream laid, Jegher employed the bold, graphic characteristic of woodcut technique convey both grandeur and. The medium’s ability to produce multiple impressions made devotional imagery widely accessible beyond church walls, allowing viewers in the seventeenth century to encounter sacred scenes in their own homes. Measuring 33 by 43 centimeters, the print balances intricate detail with the expressive power of carved wood. Jegher’s handling of light and shadow, achieved through careful cutting and inking, gives the composition a sense of luminous drama typical of the Baroque period. Such works played an important role in spreading religious narratives across Europe, bridging the worlds of fine art and popular devotion. Today this impression in the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection offers visitors a window into both artistic craftsmanship and the cultural importance of printmaking in the 1600s.