Christus en Maria Possibly 1658

Jan Thomas made this monochrome print "Christus en Maria" sometime in the 17th century. Thomas was court painter to Leopold I, who this print seems to commemorate as it depicts Jesus with his mother on their way to the wedding at Cana. The solemn nature of the piece suggests the weight of religious and political authority, and the composition is quite traditional. It's in the faces that something more interesting emerges. There is an almost Renaissance-like quality to Mary’s face, which is somewhat masculinized. She appears calm, but assertive. Jesus is depicted as a man of his time, though it is a somewhat romanticized version; notice the length and curls of his hair, which is set against the more conservatively dressed Mary. Ultimately, this artwork blends the sacred and secular, reflecting both the religious devotion of the era and the personal vision of the artist. It invites us to reflect on the intertwined nature of faith, power, and identity in the 17th century.