Maria met Christuskind 1803 - 1818

Curator: Willem van Senus' "Maria met Christuskind," dating from around 1803 to 1818, captured my attention right away. It's currently residing here at the Rijksmuseum. It's an engraving, based on a drawing, I believe. Editor: The overwhelming feeling is one of tenderness. The composition is strikingly simple, almost austere. Everything funnels towards that central mother and child embrace. There's such quiet strength in her face. Curator: It’s the curve of her head, isn't it? Leaning into the child...a perfect echo of that oval frame. Van Senus was clearly masterful in suggesting emotion with just line and tone in this print. Editor: Absolutely. It's an engraving, so we're looking at such precise, deliberate marks creating that feeling of depth and softness, especially in the fabrics. Though, in its own way, that tight control can also feel… removed, somehow. There's something very Baroque in its construction; yet distant emotionally, despite its tender subject. Curator: That restraint speaks to the period, I think. Look at her gaze—lowered, reflective, not inviting sentimentality. There's also a clear formal nod towards history paintings within the engraving itself. By showing this intimate scene within that framed oval, perhaps it echoes older religious panel paintings. It raises this seemingly simple act of breastfeeding to a significant, meaningful plane. It invites us to pause and consider something both beautiful and utterly normal. Editor: It's clever how Van Senus manages to create that contrast - a formal structure around such an intimate, human moment. The gray scale almost encourages me to seek the underlying skeleton of it all. And despite the overt religious aspect, there’s universality to it that transcends any dogma. Curator: Precisely. It’s an incredibly complex work—delicate yet powerful in its ability to blend reverence with raw humanity, I find something more to see each time. Editor: Indeed, a fine reminder of how technique serves sentiment, and both reveal so much more.