Maria met kind aan de borst en peer 1520

"Maria met kind aan de borst en peer" (Mary with Child at Breast and Pear), a 1520 engraving by German Renaissance artist Sebald Beham, depicts the Virgin Mary breastfeeding the Christ Child. The image, now part of the Rijksmuseum collection, is a small-scale work, measuring only 110mm by 74mm. The fine lines and detailed textures of the engraving capture Mary's tender embrace of her son, emphasizing the intimate and devotional nature of the subject. The pear held in Mary's hand is a symbol of both earthly pleasure and the fruit of paradise, adding a complex layer of meaning to the scene.