Maria, het kind der toovergodin / Marie, l'enfant de la fée 1833 - 1911

This print, "Maria, het kind der toovergodin" by Brepols & Dierckx Zoon, unfolds a narrative through a series of images, rich with symbols drawn from folklore. Note the repeated motif of the young woman, Maria, interacting with figures of authority and nature. The narrative echoes archetypal themes of innocence, persecution, and eventual triumph. We see her giving gifts to people, and later, being banished. These elements are found across cultures, echoing in tales such as Snow White and Cinderella. The image of the banished woman finds resonance with the myth of Psyche, whose wanderings and trials test her spirit. Similarly, Maria’s journey, filled with challenges, taps into our collective memory of resilience and transformation. The psychological impact of such stories lies in their ability to reflect our own struggles and hopes. They represent a cyclical progression of hardship, redemption, and rebirth, endlessly resurfacing and evolving in new forms throughout history.