Maria en kind met drie heiligen 1861 - 1889

William Unger created this print titled 'Maria en kind met drie heiligen' - or 'Mary and child with three saints' - using etching. Unger, who lived from 1837 to 1932, was working within a long tradition of religious art, but it is always worth asking what it means to return to these themes at different historical moments. This piece, with its rendering of the Madonna and child, brings forth discussions about idealized motherhood and representations of purity that are so deeply embedded in Western art. Look at how Mary is depicted: serene, almost ethereal, embodying an ideal of womanhood that is both revered and impossibly distant. The presence of the saints adds layers of meaning, situating the holy family within a lineage of faith. It invites us to reflect on the historical and cultural narratives that shape our understanding of family, religion, and gender. Ultimately, this image becomes a space where historical representation meets personal interpretation.