Twee luiken van een huisaltaar, afgebeeld Maria met Christus als kind en heiligen before 1896

Editor: So, this engraving, "Twee luiken van een huisaltaar, afgebeeld Maria met Christus als kind en heiligen," dating from before 1896 and credited to Joseph Casier, it almost feels like peering through a medieval window, all these little scenes tangled up together...what grabs you when you look at this? Curator: That's beautifully put; a window to the past indeed! I'm struck by the intimacy, ironically achieved through such detailed and patterned density. See how each compartment holds a story, a secret devotion. I imagine someone, centuries ago, unfolding this little altar, their personal universe blooming open. Does that sense of personal connection resonate with you at all? Editor: I guess, the level of detail is amazing for something that seems intended for such private use. How do you think it functioned as a "huisaltaar," or home altar? Curator: Think of it as a portable sacred space, Editor. A constant reminder. The engravings—each tiny portrait and saintly scene—would offer solace and a focal point for daily prayers. Notice the recurring visual motif of the vine, connecting each story; what might that signify in this context, do you think? Editor: Connection? To me, it gives the composition an ornamental feel...almost decorative. Curator: Yes, certainly! Ornamentation, devotion, intertwined like those vines. And that’s exactly the point! These were designed to elevate everyday life, merging the divine with the domestic. It reminds us that art wasn't always about grand pronouncements in gilded frames, but humble acts of devotion in the intimacy of home. What’s been the most surprising element for you? Editor: I hadn't really thought about art being something so...personal. Like a secret garden of faith. Curator: Exactly! And hopefully, something you will reflect on the next time you think about "art."