Aanbidding van Christus door Maria en de H. Lodewijk van Toulouse 1660

Lucas Vorsterman the Younger created this engraving, "Adoration of Christ by Mary and Saint Louis of Toulouse," sometime in the 17th century. The image centers on the infant Christ, his tiny hand reaching upward, flanked by Mary and Saint Louis. Consider the "Adoration" motif itself—an echo of ancient pagan rituals, reborn through Christianity. This gesture of reaching upward is a powerful symbol, reappearing across cultures and epochs. Think of the raised hands in ancient Egyptian art, beseeching the gods, or the orant figures in early Christian catacombs. The yearning for connection with the divine is a constant in the human psyche. Mary's prayerful hands and Saint Louis's reverent gaze speak to our collective need for solace and meaning. This engraving is but one manifestation of an age-old quest, a visual echo resonating through time.