The Birth of the Virgin 1590 - 1625

This engraving depicts the birth of the Virgin Mary, surrounded by attendants in a domestic interior filled with symbolism. Central to the scene is the ritual washing of the newborn, a motif that transcends cultures, symbolizing purification and the start of life’s journey. Consider the halos, emblems of sanctity, a visual echo of divinity, and a carry-over from pre-Christian sun symbols. These radiant circles, seen also in depictions of Apollo, have been recontextualized to signify spiritual enlightenment. The tender gestures, the intimate setting; these are powerful, subconscious appeals to our shared human experiences of birth, care, and protection. Like in ancient Roman funerary art, where the deceased are depicted in domestic scenes to soften the blow of mortality, here too, the familiar setting brings the divine down to earth. The enduring need to connect with the divine is a path that is constantly being retraced, and continues to evolve in form to this day.