Knielend kind met druiventros 1630 - 1652

This etching, "Kneeling Child with Grapes," was made by Pieter van Avont sometime in the first half of the 17th century. The most striking aspect is its composition: the cherubic child is positioned in a three-quarter view, his body softly modeled with light hatching. The lines used to describe the child and the grapes are delicate, yet they define form and texture with remarkable precision. Van Avont's structural approach uses the symbolism of grapes, often associated with abundance and divine favor, to elevate a simple scene into an allegorical meditation on innocence and natural bounty. The composition also evokes a semiotic interplay, where the child’s form and the grapes become signs that transcend their immediate visual presence. Consider how the artist uses line and form to subtly infuse the image with layers of meaning, blending the corporeal with the symbolic.