Maria met Kind en de H. Norbert 1650

This is "Maria met Kind en de H. Norbert," an engraving created by Wenceslaus Hollar in 1650. Here, the composition is defined by a central scene framed by smaller vignettes, creating a structured narrative. The main scene depicts the Virgin Mary with Child, bestowing grace upon Saint Norbert. What stands out is Hollar’s use of line and texture to create depth and luminosity within a monochromatic palette. The radiating lines of divine light contrast with the dense cross-hatching, which defines form and shadow. The surrounding scenes, each framed with precision, act as individual studies in miniature, reflecting different aspects of religious life and devotion. The rigidity of the borders clashes with the ethereal quality of the divine figures. Hollar uses formal structure to mediate between the earthly and the heavenly. This engraving invites us to consider how the formal organization of visual elements—line, space, and composition—can guide the viewer through a complex theological narrative.