Zittende Madonna en lam 1636 - 1637

This engraving presents the Virgin Mary seated with the Christ Child, who embraces a lamb. The lamb, a symbol of innocence and sacrifice, heralds Christ’s future role as the sacrificial Lamb of God, an echo of ancient sacrificial rituals. Consider the motif of the Good Shepherd, traceable to early Christian art and even pagan antiquity, where figures carried lambs as symbols of protection and guidance. This imagery surfaces again and again, a visual echo across time. Here, the lamb nestled in Christ’s arms takes on added layers of meaning. It’s not just a symbol of future sacrifice; it's a profound statement about innocence and redemption. This echoes backwards and forwards through time. The emotional resonance of this image lies in the tender embrace between mother and child, interwoven with this symbol of sacrifice. It engages us on a primal level, touching upon themes of love, loss, and the eternal cycle of life. The image pulls us in with a feeling of tenderness, hinting at sorrow. Such symbols resurface, evolve, and are perpetually laden with new meaning.