Maria met kind op de maansikkel 1497 - 1501

This is an engraving of the Virgin Mary with Child on a crescent moon, made by an anonymous artist. The crescent moon beneath Mary’s feet is no mere decoration; it is laden with symbolism. In Christian iconography, the Virgin Mary is often depicted standing on a crescent moon, an image derived from the Book of Revelation. But this motif has deeper roots. Consider the ancient goddess Diana, also associated with the moon, and the Sumerian moon god Sin, whose symbol was the crescent. The motif is not merely visual; it stirs deep emotional responses. The serene yet sorrowful expression of the Virgin, combined with the vulnerability of the Christ Child, evokes a complex mix of tenderness and premonition. In essence, the image is a potent vehicle for collective memory, each element resonating with echoes of the past, transformed and renewed in a Christian context. It’s a continuous cycle, echoing through time.