Maria met het Christuskind en de H. Johannes 1660

This print by D. Claessens depicts the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child and Saint John the Baptist. Here we observe potent symbolism: the infant Christ stands upon the prone figure of Saint John, his hand raised to receive the descending dove. The motif of one figure standing atop another resonates deeply within the collective unconscious. We recall similar arrangements in depictions of conquering heroes, a trope extending back to ancient Roman triumphs. Yet, here, the subjugation is of a spiritual nature; Christ’s dominance signifies the superseding of the Old Covenant by the New. The dove, symbolising the Holy Spirit, often accompanies depictions of baptism or divine approval. It is a symbol recognized across time, from ancient mosaics to Renaissance frescoes, evolving yet retaining its sacred essence. This image taps into primal emotions and deeply ingrained cultural narratives. This cyclical pattern of motifs is not linear but spiraling, resurfacing across epochs and acquiring new layers of meaning each time.