Den hellige familie 1775 - 1777

This engraving of ‘The Holy Family’ was crafted by J.F. Clemens, and is currently held at the SMK, the National Gallery of Denmark. The composition unfolds as a study in contrasts and geometries. Notice how the artist skillfully balances the earthly with the divine through the use of light and shadow. Linear precision defines architectural features like the roof beams and workbench, setting a stage for the rounded, maternal forms of Mary and the infant Jesus. Clemens contrasts the sacred with the mundane, positioning the family within an everyday domestic scene. The engraving’s formal arrangement invites us to consider how Clemens uses line and form to challenge traditional depictions of religious subjects. Are the symbols of holiness destabilized by their placement within the quotidian? In closing, consider how Clemens’ formal decisions—the precise rendering of light, the careful arrangement of figures—contribute to a larger discourse on faith, family, and representation.