The Virgin Mary adoring the Christ child, an angel holding a crown of thorns at right 1724 - 1734

Frédéric Horthemels created this print, "The Virgin Mary adoring the Christ child, an angel holding a crown of thorns at right," sometime between 1680 and 1738. Here, the Virgin Mary kneels in devotion before the infant Christ. The symbols are potent: an angel presents a crown of thorns, a stark premonition of Christ’s suffering, while a ladder and cross float above. The crown, initially a symbol of pain, reverses its meaning over time, and transforms into a symbol of triumph and divinity. Consider the emotional resonance: Mary's posture embodies maternal love but also foreshadows immense sorrow. This duality engages us, stirring deep-seated emotions and collective memories of sacrifice and redemption. Such iconography, while rooted in Christian narrative, echoes through art history. From Byzantine mosaics to Renaissance paintings, these symbols reappear, constantly reshaped by cultural contexts. The image's power lies in its ability to evoke timeless, deeply human emotions, resurfacing through generations.