Heilige Familie met Elisabet en Johannes de Doper met duif 1653 - 1654

This is Gilles Rousselet’s print ‘Holy Family with Elizabeth and John the Baptist with Dove’, made in the 17th century. Notice how Rousselet constructs a scene of intimate tenderness within a carefully organized visual field. The composition draws the eye through a series of interconnected forms, from the embracing infants at the center, to the figures of Mary, Elizabeth and Joseph, all framed against a landscape featuring soft clouds. The linear quality of the engraving emphasizes contours and textures, creating a play of light and shadow that models the forms and adds depth. The emotional depth conveyed by the expressions and gestures of the figures offers a window into the prevailing cultural values and theological narratives of the period. Rousselet uses the semiotic language of the era to communicate complex religious ideas, inviting viewers to contemplate the spiritual and moral dimensions of the scene. The print remains a testament to the enduring power of art to mediate between the visible world and the realm of human values and beliefs.