Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi made this engraving, Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist, in the eighteenth century, a period characterized by its rigid social hierarchies and equally rigid artistic conventions. Piranesi, however, offers a subversion of the traditional Madonna and Child depictions that were en vogue during this period. Instead of the stoic, regal, and untouchable Virgin, Piranesi offers a humanized version of motherhood. We see a tenderness in the way she looks at her son. There is a palpable sense of intimacy between the figures, offering a more emotional, less symbolic representation of motherhood. The inclusion of St. John the Baptist introduces themes of brotherhood and companionship, and lends the engraving a familial feel. The print challenges the established norms of the time, offering a nuanced portrayal of familial love and intimacy that invites viewers to connect with the artwork on a deeply personal level.