Non met een lezend kind 1857 - 1914

Nikolay Semyonovich Mosolov created this black and white print titled 'Non met een lezend kind'. Here, light and shadow define the forms within a somber palette. The composition focuses our attention on the intimate portrayal of a nun and child, structured within a tightly framed, vertical rectangle. The artist plays with tonal contrasts to delineate the figures, using delicate strokes to model the nun’s face and the child’s soft features. The darker background sets off the lighter tones of their skin and garments. This careful distribution of light and dark creates depth and draws us into the emotional world of the image. The work functions as a sign, using familiar cultural codes to convey themes of piety, innocence, and the nurturing role of the church. It’s through these visual cues that Mosolov constructs a narrative, inviting viewers to interpret the relationship between the figures and the values they represent. The subtle gradations in tone and texture reinforce this intimate, reflective mood, inviting ongoing interpretation.