A sculpture depicting the Virgin Mary giving birth to Jesus was vandalized by being beheaded in Austria, days after it went on display as part of an exhibition exploring women’s roles in faith and tradition.

The work had drawn criticism from some Catholics, who said it was blasphemous.

A historian of art says it's part of a long tradition of artists reimagining Christ's birth to align with contemporary values and beliefs.
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A realistic statue of Mary giving birth was criticized, then vandalized − but saints and artists have often reimagined Christ’s birth

Early Christian texts reveal how the birth of Christ reflected ideas of the day − in some illustrations, midwives helped the Virgin Mary give birth.

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