Mary, sketch for the stained glass window Ave Maria in Pori Church 

Magnus Enckell created this watercolor sketch of Mary for a stained glass window in the Pori Church. Her face, framed by a dark veil, is turned inward, with eyes closed and one hand shielding her face, creating a powerful sense of introspection. The composition relies on soft, fluid lines and translucent layers of color. The interplay between light and shadow models her form, yet the sketchy quality prevents a complete sense of volume. Her pose conveys both humility and a quiet strength, enhanced by the delicate balance of color and form. The structural ambiguity here raises interesting questions. Is she shielding herself from a divine vision, or simply deep in thought? Enckell's strategic use of suggestion invites us to contemplate the complex relationship between faith, perception, and representation. Through subtle gestures and structural tensions, Enckell offers a vision of Mary that is both reverent and strikingly modern.