Maria met Christuskind c. 1615 - 1623

This delicate print, "Maria met Christuskind" from an unknown artist, presents Mary holding the Christ Child, rendered with an economy of line and tone. The composition is structured by the curving form of Mary’s head and shoulders which create a protective enclosure around the infant. The artist employs a limited palette, focusing on gradations of sepia ink to define form and texture. Notice how the fine, almost scribbled lines suggest the folds of Mary’s headdress and the soft flesh of the child. The background, a field of vertical strokes, is only vaguely defined, pushing the figures into the foreground. The whole scene evokes an atmosphere of intimacy and quiet devotion. The use of hatching and cross-hatching in the background creates a sense of depth while simultaneously flattening the image, drawing attention to the surface quality of the print itself. It's through this interplay of line and tone, that the artist constructs a powerful, emotive image, inviting viewers to contemplate the bond between mother and child. The work transcends mere representation to become a meditation on form, faith, and the expressive potential of simple lines.