Maria met kind Possibly 1700 - 1865

This print, "Maria met kind," by van der Haeghen at the Rijksmuseum, employs stark contrasts and precise lines to depict a traditional religious scene. The composition is rigidly symmetrical, framed by an ornate border that both contains and emphasizes the central figures of Mary and the infant Jesus. The artist's use of hatching and cross-hatching creates a sense of depth and volume, yet the overall effect is one of flattened space, typical of woodcut techniques. The figures, adorned with crowns and halos, are rendered with a formal austerity, their drapery falling in heavy, angular folds. This stylistic choice may reflect the religious context, imbuing the scene with a sense of solemnity. Consider how the artist uses line, not just to define form but to delineate the sacred from the mundane. The very act of framing—placing this vision within a defined border—affirms its status as an object of contemplation, inviting viewers to decode its symbolic language.