Virgin and Child 1600 - 1688

Claude Mellan created this engraving, Virgin and Child, sometime in the 17th century. The image is striking for its novel technique: all of the shading is created from a single continuous line that spirals out from the center of the Virgin's face. The print was made in France, a Catholic country, and it uses a visual language familiar to a Christian audience. The Virgin Mary is depicted as the mother of Jesus Christ, a common subject in religious art of the period. Mellan employs a formal visual language to convey a religious message. Notice how light radiates outwards from the Virgin and Child, conveying their holiness. Mellan's print responds to the Catholic church's call for art that moves the faithful. To understand this artwork better, we might consult theological texts of the period, as well as histories of the Catholic Church and its influence on art production. Through such research, we can appreciate how this artwork reflects its time and the power of institutions to shape artistic expression.