Heilige Familie met putti bij appelboom 1650 - 1655

This engraving, "Holy Family with Putti by an Apple Tree," was created by Gilles Rousselet in the 17th century and is now held at the Rijksmuseum. The composition is designed to evoke a sense of serene abundance. Notice how Rousselet uses contrasting textures and tones to differentiate between the earthly realm of the Holy Family and the ethereal presence of the angels in the clouds. The figures are brought together through an interplay of light and shadow. The artist uses the classical pyramidal composition to bring together Mary, Jesus, and Joseph. The apple tree extends upwards and outwards to suggest a continuum between heaven and earth. Rousselet employs a semiotic structure in this image that is both complex and symbolic. Through the formal arrangement of figures and objects, Rousselet invites us to explore the convergence of divine and earthly love, and how this transcends human categories. The artwork thus becomes a site of contemplation and meditation on the deeper mysteries of faith.