Maria met Christuskind bij wieg 1590 - 1632

Pieter de Jode I created this engraving, “Maria met Christuskind bij wieg,” capturing the Virgin Mary and infant Christ. Mary's halo marks her divinity, but it is the Christ Child's halo that radiates with beams of light, a symbol resonating deeply with ancient solar deities. Consider depictions of Apollo, the Greco-Roman god of light, often portrayed similarly with radiant halos. This visual echo is no accident; early Christian artists integrated familiar pagan symbols, imbuing them with new meaning. It is a fascinating cultural adaptation, where the established iconography of divinity is re-contextualized to convey the sacredness of Christ. The motif of the radiant child suggests more than holiness; it evokes a sense of hope and renewal, connecting primal emotions across millennia. The image taps into our collective memory, resurfacing in each era, continually reborn.