Portret van Mary Knight geknield voor een crucifix 1749

This is John Faber the Second's portrait of Mary Knight, made with mezzotint. The image is dominated by a somber mood created through its monochromatic palette of dark grays and blacks. The kneeling figure of Mary Knight is positioned asymmetrically, drawing our eye from left to right towards the crucifix. The composition uses the stark contrast of light and shadow to create a sense of drama, almost theatrical. The texture achieved through the mezzotint technique softens the harshness of the contrast. We can read a semiotic system of signs, particularly in the crucifix and her kneeling posture, symbols of devotion. The crucifix disrupts the personal space of Mary Knight, and we can explore this tension between the physical and the spiritual. Notice how the softness of the mezzotint contrasts with the stark, unwavering verticality of the cross. This contrast functions not just aesthetically but also as part of a discourse on faith, sin, and redemption, where Mary's act of worship becomes a performative declaration of repentance and belief.