Maria met kind op de arm 1823 - 1869

This delicate engraving by Charles Billoin captures the serene image of Mary holding the Christ Child. This iconography has deep roots, reaching back to ancient depictions of maternal goddesses. Consider, for instance, the Egyptian Isis cradling Horus. The pose, the gentle embrace, transcends mere representation, tapping into a primal, universal understanding of motherhood and protection. Through time, this motif has evolved, yet its emotional core remains. In the Renaissance, we see Madonnas imbued with humanist ideals, but the underlying message persists: the nurturing mother, the divine child. The image stirs something deep within us, a resonance with our own earliest experiences of comfort and security. It’s a powerful current, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. This isn’t just about religious belief; it's about the enduring power of symbols to evoke profound emotional states. It highlights how forms resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.