Oude vrouw in een stoel met een biddend kind voor zich 1851

This line drawing titled 'Oude vrouw in een stoel met een biddend kind voor zich' was created by Jules Chrétien Charles Joseph Henri Helbig. It presents a symmetrical composition framed with religious iconography. The drawing’s formal structure is immediately striking; it's divided into distinct registers. We see a seated old woman and a child in prayer, flanked by angelic figures. Above them, a celestial gathering is framed by an arch, while below, a chaotic scene unfolds with demonic figures. The symmetry imposes a hierarchical order, drawing the eye upwards towards the divine realm and downwards to a darker, more earthly plane. The formal arrangement isn’t just decorative. It operates semiotically, with the upper and lower registers representing conflicting spiritual domains. The central figures—the old woman and child—act as mediators between these realms, embodying a moment of supplication and hope. The careful rendering of light and shadow adds depth, reinforcing the visual and symbolic contrast between good and evil, order and chaos. The composition invites a deeper interpretation of faith, morality, and human vulnerability.