Caritas met kinderen bij ruïne 1621 - 1694

Antoine Garnier's print, created in the 17th century, depicts Caritas, or Charity, amidst ruins, surrounded by children. The most striking visual symbol is the exposed breast of Caritas, an ancient emblem of maternal love and nourishment, dating back to antiquity with the Egyptian goddess Isis. This motif reappears throughout history; we see it, for instance, in classical Roman depictions of Juno. In the Middle Ages, the Virgin Mary was portrayed in a similar fashion, the "Maria Lactans", nursing the infant Christ, demonstrating divine grace through maternal care. Consider how the suckling child transcends its literal representation. It becomes a vessel of deeper psychological longings and a testament to the primal bond between mother and child. The emotional power of this imagery—engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level—lies in its ability to evoke universal feelings of love, protection, and nurturing. Observe how this symbol has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings across different historical contexts, revealing the cyclical progression of cultural memory.