Drie Maria’s c. 1610 - 1615

This small print, "Drie Maria’s," at the Rijksmuseum, presents a tonal study in brown ink, attributed to an anonymous artist. Its tight composition centers on three figures, each marked by a halo, arranged in a pyramidal form that draws the eye upward. The artist’s use of hatching creates a dense background, pushing the figures forward, while the chalice held by one of the Marys serves as a focal point, its simple form contrasting with the more complex rendering of the figures. The halos, rendered as clean circles, frame the composition and draw attention to the figures. The lack of distinct facial features invites a semiotic reading. The forms operate more as symbols rather than as portraits of the women. This abstraction invites an emotional response, a feeling of contemplation and anonymity, challenging fixed meanings and opening a space for individual interpretation. The formal qualities invite viewers to question the interplay between representation and religious symbolism.