Maria met kind aan de borst en peer 1520

Sebald Beham etched this image of the Virgin and Child. Observe how the Madonna breastfeeds the infant Jesus, offering nourishment, while holding a pear, a symbol of salvation. The pear alludes to the fruit of paradise, promising redemption from original sin through Christ. This motif echoes across time, reminiscent of ancient fertility goddesses offering sustenance. Consider the Egyptian goddess Isis nursing Horus, a parallel that speaks to a universal archetype of maternal care. In the Renaissance, we see echoes of this in paintings of Charity. Here, the pear as salvation, is a Christian adaptation of pre-Christian motifs of cyclical rebirth. The viewer is drawn into a powerful, subconscious recognition of maternal love, deeply embedded in our collective psyche. This primal image serves as a testament to the enduring human experience. This visual echoes across centuries, manifesting in myriad forms.