Maria met kind 1638

Curator: Ah, here we have "Maria met kind," or "Mary with Child," a baroque engraving from 1638 by Michel Lasne, residing here at the Rijksmuseum. What's your initial take? Editor: The tenderness just radiates, doesn't it? There's such an immediate sense of serenity, despite the, shall we say, somewhat dramatic rendering of the foliage. It's like a secret, peaceful moment captured amidst a storm. Curator: A good observation. The natural elements, typical baroque flourishes, might signal not disturbance so much as the bounty of nature that will be inherited from this Child. But it's really the intimate way she gazes downward that’s compelling. You see echoes of older depictions of Madonna, but the figures share a much more gentle emotional reciprocity. Editor: Absolutely. There is something striking in the depiction of their relationship. Her touch seems so gentle, it gives me the impression the Child will slip if She loosens her grip ever so slightly. It seems so delicate. A sort of early-modern maternal fragility perhaps? Curator: A valid observation given our own cultural preoccupations, however here it is perhaps safer to suggest vulnerability rather than fragility. The engraving is fascinating because it's so much more than a beautiful scene. Remember the symbolic weight: The Virgin and Child theme signifies the Church and its promise of salvation. In times of social and political turmoil, this motif offered assurance of spiritual refuge and triumph of good. The lilies that fill the inscription reinforce purity and innocence as key aspects in that spiritual message. Editor: Lilies, ah yes, of course. So, a loaded image dressed up as intimacy. That gives me a touch of the melancholies... It is funny how we're often so used to devotional images, that it takes effort to really pause, and acknowledge the visual language used. I now wonder what others read when faced with such depiction? Curator: Indeed. Every line, every glance in this engraving has been meticulously considered to inspire and guide viewers. The artist uses very fine, close hatching to add texture and a certain depth, wouldn’t you say? Editor: It is incredible indeed, a very fine balance of technicality and drama, the artist certainly made the most of his lines! Overall it certainly evokes more feelings than I originally anticipated... Curator: A powerful emblem of faith expressed in vulnerable human terms. A perfect summation, I'd say.