Madonna met kind 1618 - 1655

Cornelis Schut made this etching of the Madonna and Child in the 17th century. It’s a small devotional image, designed for private contemplation. Schut was from Antwerp, in the Spanish Netherlands, and his art reflects the Catholic culture of his time. The Virgin Mary, as the mother of God, was a key figure in Counter-Reformation art. The imagery was designed to inspire faith and piety. The composition is simple and intimate; the Madonna gazes adoringly at her son. To understand this work fully, you'd want to know more about the religious orders active in Antwerp at the time. Were there particular artistic traditions, or debates about the display of religious images? Were there local cults of the Virgin, or social programs that this image might relate to? Art history is about understanding the social and institutional contexts that give images meaning.