Virgin and Child 1515 - 1540

This delicate etching of the Virgin and Child was created by Parmigianino, an artist working in 16th-century Italy. At the time, there were rigid social expectations on how women, especially mothers, should be represented. Parmigianino’s Virgin departs from conventional portrayals of idealized Madonnas. She is presented with an understated, almost melancholic disposition. Her gaze is directed away from the viewer, creating a sense of intimacy between mother and child. This choice could reflect Parmigianino's interest in exploring the emotional and psychological dimensions of his figures. The delicate lines of the etching add to the tenderness of the image. It is a more humanized depiction of Mary, inviting viewers to consider the personal experience of motherhood, rather than a purely divine representation. It serves as a reminder of the Renaissance's complex negotiation between religious devotion and the emerging emphasis on humanism.