Maria met Kind, Johannes en Elisabeth 1634 - 1679

Nicolas Pierre Loir created this etching, “Maria met Kind, Johannes en Elisabeth,” where Mary sits regally, holding the infant Jesus, with Saint Elisabeth standing behind them and a young John the Baptist playing at their feet. Consider the column behind them—a fragment suggesting classical antiquity, yet repurposed to support a Christian narrative. Columns, ancient symbols of strength and stability, have long been associated with power and divinity, reappearing in varied forms across cultures, from the pillars of Egyptian temples to the triumphal arches of Rome. This visual adaptation reveals a fascinating cultural process: antiquity is being invoked and subtly reshaped to legitimize new ideological structures. Notice, too, the cross laying discarded on the ground. This foreshadows the future sacrifice of Christ, a symbol laden with grief and redemption. Such symbolic inversions resonate deeply within our collective psyche, evoking profound emotional responses tied to sacrifice, memory, and the cyclical nature of history. These resurfacing symbols are a testament to the enduring power of images.