Virgin and Child 1600 - 1688

Claude Mellan’s etching "Virgin and Child" depicts a tender moment between Mary and the infant Jesus. The delicate lines and shading create a sense of light and shadow, particularly in the halo surrounding Mary’s head. The composition, featuring a simple landscape background, further emphasizes the intimate bond between mother and son, a theme prevalent in Renaissance and Baroque art. The work, created between 1600 and 1688, exemplifies Mellan's masterful command of etching, a technique that allowed for subtle variations in line and tone, adding depth and realism to the image. The piece is currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.