Vessels and Virgins by Rachel Livedalen

In Vessels and Virgins, each page features an image of the Virgin Mary from a different Renaissance painting depicting The Annunciation. The Virgin Mary is then flanked by four images of Greco-Roman vessels. The common art historical motif of The Annunciation depicts the angel Gabriel informing Mary that she is pregnant with Jesus Christ. In this instant, Mary becomes the Holy Vessel in Christian mythology. The accompanying Greco-Roman vessels amplify this symbolism, as well as link to their preceding pagan cultural tradition. The verso silkscreened pages feature blue wavelike lines. In Annunciation scenes and other depictions of the Virgin Mary, Mary is clothed in a blue robe. This color has historically symbolized her holy stature, to the extent that various shades of blue have become part of the cultural mode of representation in conjunction with depictions of the Virgin Mary. It is because of this association that the color blue is the prominent color within this book.