The education of the Virgin, with Saint Anne seated on a bench looking upwards and putting her arm around the Virgin 1640 - 1678

This engraving, "The Education of the Virgin" by Cornelis van Caukercken, presents Saint Anne and the Virgin Mary in a tender embrace. The composition is structured vertically, guiding the eye upward from the richly textured fur draped over Saint Anne’s lap, to the delicate facial expressions of the figures. Notice the contrasting textures achieved through the engraving technique; the soft, flowing lines of the drapery against the sharp, defined edges of the architectural elements. This contrast isn't just aesthetic, it also serves to highlight the interplay between the earthly and the divine. The gaze of Saint Anne is directed towards the heavens. The engraver uses line and form to suggest the cultural codes associated with religious virtue and learning. Consider how this engraving, with its emphasis on detail and symbolic composition, invites us to reflect on the visual and cultural meanings embedded in images of religious instruction and feminine virtue. The artwork thus becomes a site where traditional values meet artistic expression, prompting ongoing interpretations.